A Working Model for Evaluating Academic Excellence in Geoscience Education, Undergraduate, and K-12

Abstract

Consensus regarding criteria for academic excellence in geosciences is an important component in developing K-16 geoscience study that can lead to 1) general geoscience literacy for personal and social decision making and public support of geoscience research, and 2) strengthening depth of understanding for geoscience majors.A systhesis of criteria for academic excellence in geosciences is derived from the criteria for excellence developed by scientific societies including National Research Council/National Academy of Sciences documents which address K-16 education in the sciences and geosciences. National professional organization reports corroborate the scientific societies' criteria. By identifying and synthesizing the learning goals in these documents a succinct set of criteria for academic excellence in the geosciences is developed.Using the Geoscience Academic Excellence Model derived from the synthesis it is possible to evaluate the excellence of academic documents involving the study of geosciences K-16. Geosciences departments are encouraged to develop their own curriculum alignment with the criteria and to assist state and local K-12 science education policy in achieving the same level of excellence.