Development of a Web Resource Aimed at Increasing Climate Literacy Beyond STEM Disciplines
Abstract
This poster presents progress on a climate literacy project aimed at encouraging educators to incorporate climate-related information into non-STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) curricula by demonstrating how subject areas such as history, social studies, literature, art and music are connected to climate . The project strives to improve overall climate literacy and increase general understanding of the impact of climate on human societies so that current and future consequences of climate change can be better comprehended and assessed by the public. To achieve this goal, project leaders are developing an easily accessible website ( www.science.smith.edu/climatelit / ) that is aimed at K-12 teachers, but is equally applicable in higher education and of potential interest to various individuals and organizations. This project was inspired by students in the GEO 106 Extraordinary Events in the History of Earth, Life and Climate course at Smith College, and by The Teacher-Friendly Guide TM to Climate Change, a publication by the Paleontological Research Institution, whose focus audience is primarily high school Earth and environmental science teachers.
The development of the web site consists of two phases.The first phase includes compiling, researching, formatting and posting a list of climate-related topics in non-STEM areas. Each subject area has a table of contents, in which links to the climate-related topics are organized chronologically and geographically. Each topic is briefly described, its relation to climate is explored, and links to resources for additional information are provided. Examples include "Migration of Humans into North America," " Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818) and The Vampyre by John William Polidori (1819)" and "Winter Landscapes Paintings by Dutch and English Masters." The second phase will include the development of ideas for incorporating these topics into teaching at various levels in order to make the information even more accessible to educators. Climate and educational professionals will continue to be consulted to provide feedback on all aspects of the project. In addition, the web site encourages its users to provide feedback, especially in regards to its educational component, by emailing project leaders at climate@smith.edu .- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2020
- Bibcode:
- 2020AGUFMED0140004D
- Keywords:
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- 0805 Elementary and secondary education;
- EDUCATION;
- 0810 Post-secondary education;
- EDUCATION;
- 0815 Informal education;
- EDUCATION;
- 0840 Evaluation and assessment;
- EDUCATION