2002 Summer Conference Announcement Registration Schedule Call for Papers

2002 Summer Conference "Integrating Science and Mathematics Education Research into Teaching" June 23 to 25, 2002 · The University of Maine · Orono, Maine Sponsored by: The University of Maine - Center for Science and Mathematics Education Research Maine Mathematics and Science Teaching Excellence Collaborative (MMSTEC)

ABSTRACT Process and Inquiry in the Earth Sciences: Research into the Design of Active, Inquiry-based Content Courses for Pre-service and In-service Elementary Teachers Eric Riggs As the Earth sciences gain prominence in the K-12 curriculum and in national and local science standards, many districts are now faced with a chronic shortage of teachers with the background to confidently teach geoscience, especially in the elementary grades. In response to local demand, we have initiated an overhaul of Natural Sciences 412D, a content course covering some of the "big ideas" in Earth science for pre-service teachers at San Diego State University. Along with this work comes many opportunities for development and assessment of new curricular units, and for associated research in basic teaching and learning issues in the Earth sciences. Pre-service elementary teachers at SDSU also often report mild to extreme science and math anxiety, are usually women, and represent a more culturally and ethnically diverse population than the general student body. All of these factors combined offer a unique teaching and learning research environment, and allow the development of curricula and pedagogy which are easily exported to the K-6 level with minimal adjustment. We will present the general approach to the design of this Earth science class, and also the design and results of some studies we have conducted in the development and implementation of our new curricular units in this course and in related professional development for in-service teachers. Back to Announcement Page

Center for Science and Mathematics Education Research Maine Mathematics and Science Teaching Excellence Collaborative (MMSTEC)

This conference is supported by the U.S. Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Education (U.S. Department of Education Award Number R125K010106) and the National Science Foundation (NSF DUE #998-7444).