EarthConnections Geoscience Pathways: An Ecosystem Supporting Learning from K to Career

The EarthConnections Alliance uses an ecosystem approach to foster learning pathways in the geosciences. By bringing together learning opportunities in formal and informal venues and linking them to opportunities for students to contribute to community priorities, we seek to broaden participation in geoscience, develop community capacity to use geoscience, and strengthen pathways into the workforce. This approach connects abstract concepts to community priorities while opening up new strategies for increasing continuity in pre-college learning.

The EarthConnections Alliance is composed of regional groups creating local pathways with program partners providing resources that strengthen particular program elements. All members share a vision of creating learning pathways with four critical elements: 1) they connect opportunities to learn geoscience with opportunities to use this knowledge in service to the local community; 2) they link geoscience learning opportunities and learners across grade levels; 3) they use signposting and mentoring to guide and support students; and 4) they lead to local employment opportunities and geoscience-related careers. Currently comprised of 10 regional groups and 34 program partners, the EarthConnections Alliance supports communication and exchange among this collection of regional and program expertise. Further information is available at https://serc.carleton.edu/earthconnections/index.html.