Earth Systems Science and Elementary Teacher Preparation: The UNO Model for Improving Science and Mathematics Content and Pedagogy Skills
Abstract
The University of New Orleans is located on the south-shore of Lake Pontchartrain. At UNO, we have established a unique collaboration between the Colleges of Science and Education in the preparation of preservice elementary school teachers. Earth Systems Science themes, based on the local environment, provide the framework for understanding science and mathematics content. In both the content and teaching methods courses, student learning revolves around hands-on, minds-on activies. In both classes, the age-appropriate technology is used as the students perform research projects on Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River. The students are also required to practice their craft in both courses. In the science content courses, the students are required to research a topic that parallels the content learned during the semester, create lesson plans, and teach the subject to the class using inquiry-based methodology. In the teaching methods course, students are required to develop curricula and field test them in a local elementary school. Surveying students at the end of the semester suggests that using Earth Systems Science themes on the local environment as the framework for teaching science content and pedagogy not only improves the students content skills but also their perceptions of science as a subject, and their desire to teach science.
- Publication:
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AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- May 2002
- Bibcode:
- 2002AGUSMED41A..04H
- Keywords:
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- 6605 Education