Earth System Education Research Articles

Educating for a Holistic View of the Earth System: A Review

The global society of today struggles with grand challenges, such as climate change, the degradation of ecosystems, and the loss of bio- and geodiversity, as identified in several documents. The search for solutions to these and other problems on the way to sustainable development necessarily involves a better understanding of the Earth system and its dynamics. The Earth system is composed of five highly dependent and interrelated subsystems that exchange matter and energy. This notion is at the base of what in the literature is named Earth System Science (ESS). Humanity has been profoundly altering the dynamics of this system, leading to the proposal of a new geological epoch—the Anthropocene. Developing a holistic understanding of the complex and tangled relationships between subsystems and the role of human impacts is the target of study of Earth System Education (ESE). With the assumptions of ESS, ESE is emerging as a new approach in science education. Based on a deep knowledge of the planet and the development of specific competencies, such as system thinking, it is possible to perform more actively and consciously in the relationships that citizens develop with the Earth system, enabling the existence of a more viable future for humanity.

Teaching of Geoscience in the context of basic education in Brazil

Brazil has a very large territory with a peculiar geological, pedologic, and climatic situation, with many natural resources, but also with situations of geological risk. The Geoscience knowledge needed to face these challenges can be learned at school. Official documents of Brazil and of the state of Sao Paulo were surveyedto determine the contents of Geoscience in the curriculum of basic education. It was observed that the topics of Geoscience in these documents are limited and separated into various disciplines: natural sciences and geography, in elementary education, and biology, geography, chemistry, and physics in high school. The documents propose an interdisciplinary approach. With references to international documents of the International Geoscience Education Organization, Earth System Education is proposed as a unifying theme for an interdisciplinary approach, and specific training on interdisciplinary work is suggested for teachers.

実社会・実生活との関連を重視した総合的な理科教育「アースシステム教育」

実社会・実生活との関連を重視した総合的な理科教育「アースシステム教育」

総合的な科学教育や環境教育の理念 : 「アースシステム教育」(海外の動向)

総合的な科学教育や環境教育の理念 : 「アースシステム教育」(海外の動向)

암석 순환의 구성요소와 과정에 대한 예비 지구과학 교사들의 이해

The purpose of this study is to identify the composition elements and processes of the rock cycle that pre-service teachers in earth science field understand. Second-year students majoring in earth science were selected as research objects, all of whom attended teacher’s university located in the southern region. The methods of arranging the composition elements of the rock cycle in a structured way and displaying the cycle direction through the arrow and describing the cycle processes in detail were applied. Pre-service teachers recognized 5 composition elements: magma, igneous rocks, sediments, sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks of the rock cycle and cycle processes was represented into 20 branches. The cycle type was analyzed by four criteria: linear, triangular, circular, complex, some pre-teachers did not complete the loop of the cycle or some showed incomplete understanding of the cycle structure simply displayed in one direction. The rock cycle is an important theme of the earth system education characterized by dynamism and complexity.

창의·인성교육 기반 지구과학 수업모형 제안

The purpose of this study was to suggest the earth science lesson model based on the creativity character education. To conduct this study, the curriculum revision in 2009 was analyzed by the causal mapping method. One after another, the creativity character education and earth system education were analyzed by the same method. Through as mentioned above, the key words which have relating concepts each other were picked out. Lastly, the key words were connected and compounded for the earth science lesson model based on the creativity character education. The model indicates that the earth science lesson based on the creativity character education requires the reconstructs of the processing and contents of the lesson. In other words, the teaching/learning must be progressed as corresponding between scientific facts and mental recognition, scientific concepts and compounding thinking skill, scientific laws and reconstructing thinking skill. In contents were reconstructed as relating to knowledge, creativity, characters and guidance counseling. The results of this study suggested the earth science lesson model based on the creativity character education needs developing and applying teaching/learning materials and managing discussing and cooperative learning.

The Impact of Self-Reported Knowledge and Self-perceived Importance about Earth Systems on Science Gifted Students’ Science Motivation: An Exploratory Study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation among science gifted students' self-reported knowledge and self-perceived importance about Earth systems, and their science motivation. Ninety three seventh graders participated in this study who enrolled at Science Gifted Institute of K university. The correlation was measured by a validated Earth systems survey and Science Motivation Questionnaire (SMQ). The data were analyzed at the margin of error probability 0.05 using correlation and regression analysis. The result of reliability for items turned out high because the Cronbach's alphas were .896~.937. Results indicated that the correlation between self-reported knowledge on Earth systems and science motivation showed a correlation coefficient .656, whereas the correlation between importance on Earth systems and science motivation was .387, which was regarded as low. On the other hands, the result of regression analysis depicted that non-std. coefficients between students' self-reported knowledge about Earth systems and science motivation were .548 (.077), which lead to the conclusion that students' knowledge on Earth systems explained 43% of science motive-variation. It implied that Earth systems education program could impact the increased motivation of science gifted-students. Therefore, this study suggests that the various Earth systems education programs could be developed and implemented in order to increase students' motivation on studying science in general and Earth science in specific.

멀티미디어를 활용한 지구계 수업이 초등학생들의 환경민감도 및 환경 친화적 행동에 미치는 영향

멀티미디어를 활용한 지구계 수업이 초등학생들의 환경민감도 및 환경 친화적 행동에 미치는 영향

Tamara Shapiro Ledley Receives 2013 Excellence in Geophysical Education Award: Citation

It gives me great pleasure to cite Tamara Shapiro Ledley for the AGU Excellence in Geophysical Education Award “for her outstanding sustained leadership in Earth systems and climate change education.” Tamara has shown an ongoing commitment to bridging the scientific and educational communities to make geophysical science knowledge and data accessible and usable to teachers and students and by extension to all citizens. She works extensively with both the scientific and educational communities. She began her educational work in 1990 as the leader for weather and climate in my Teacher Research program at Rice University. She continued as the lead for atmospheric sciences in our projects Earth Today and Museums Teaching Planet Earth, which introduced her to the Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP Federation). She has served many roles at ESIP, including creating the Standing Committee for Education and serving as vice president. ESIP recognized her many accomplishments with its President's Award in 2012. At TERC her education and outreach efforts have blossomed. She was the lead author of the “Earth as a System” investigation of the GLOBE Teacher's Guide. She was a member of the original Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE) Data Access Working Group in 2001, where the idea for a cookbook‐like resource to facilitate the use of Earth science data by teachers and students resulted in her leading the development of the “Earth Exploration Toolbook” (EET), which allows teachers to easily access and use real scientific data in the classroom. Her efforts were recognized with the EET being awarded Science Magazine's Science Prize for Online Research in Education in 2011.

THE IMPACT OF A SCIENCE MUSEUM INVOKED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT (SMILE) ON STUDENTS

This study aims to develop an ESSMIM (Earth System-Science Museum Instructional Module) and evaluate its impacts on 11th grade high-school students’ expected and actual perceptions of a Science Museum invoked Learning Environment (SMiLE). The ESSMIM was designed following the principles of the “Earth System Education (ESE) learning cycle mode” (Chang, 2005): Engage, Explore, Analysis/Explain, as well as Apply and Evaluate. In terms of research design, a one group pretest posttest research design was adopted. The research subjects were a group of 11th grade students from a national senior high-school in Taiwan. Students’ expected and actual perceptions of SMiLE were investigated through the “SMiLE Inventory”. The results of this study showed that: (1) students’ scores, of expected SMiLE Inventory, both before and after the experimental teaching were higher than their actual SMiLE scores, (2) compared with previous actual experiences, ESSMIM created a SMiLE which was closer to students’ expectation, and (3) after experiencing the ESSMIM, the difference between students’ expectations and their actual experience of SMiLE was reduced. Key words: earth science curriculum; learning environment; perception; science museum teaching.

Rethinking historical and cultural source of spontaneous mental models of water cycle: in the perspective of South Korea

This review explores Ben-Zvi Assaraf, Eshach, Orion, and Alamour’s paper titled “Cultural Differences and Students’ Spontaneous Models of the Water Cycle: A Case Study of Jewish and Bedouin Children in Israel” by examining how the authors use the concept of spontaneous mental models to explain cultural knowledge source of Bedouin children’s mental model of water compared to Jewish children’s mental model of water in nature. My response to Ben-Zvi Assaraf et al.’s work expands upon their explanations of the Bedouin children’s cultural knowledge source. Bedouin children’s mental model is based on their culture, religion, place of living and everyday life practices related to water. I suggest a different knowledge source for spontaneous mental model of water in nature based on unique history and traditions of South Korea where people think of water in nature in different ways. This forum also addresses how western science dominates South Korean science curriculum and ways of assessing students’ conceptual understanding of scientific concepts. Additionally I argue that western science curriculum models could diminish Korean students’ understanding of natural world which are based on Korean cultural ways of thinking about the natural world. Finally, I also suggest two different ways of considering this unique knowledge source for a more culturally relevant teaching Earth system education.

A Qualitative Case Study of an Exemplary Science Teacher's Earth Systems Education Experiences

The purposes of this case study were (1) to explore one experienced teacher's views on Earth Systems Education and (2) to describe and document the characteristics of the Earth Systems Education (ESE) curriculum provided by an exemplary middle school science teacher, Dr. J. All the essential pieces of evidence were collected from observations, interviews with the experienced teacher and his eighth grade students, informal conversations, document analysis, and field notes. The <TEX>$NUD^*IST$</TEX> for MS Windows was used for an initial data reduction process and to narrow down the focus of an analysis. All transcriptions and written documents were reviewed carefully and repeatedly to find rich evidence through inductive and content analysis. The findings revealed that ESE provided a conceptual focus and theme for organizing his school curriculum. The curriculum offered opportunities for students to learn relevant local topics and to connect the classroom learning to the real world. The curriculum also played an important role in developing students' value and appreciation of Earth systems and concern for the local environment. His instructional strategies were very compatible with recommendations from a constructivist theory. His major teaching methodology and strategies were hands-on learning, authentic activities-based learning, cooperative learning, project-based learning (e.g., mini-projects), and science field trips. With respect to his views about benefits and difficulties associated with ESE, the most important benefit was that the curriculum provided authentic-based, hands-on activities and made connections between students and everyday life experiences. In addition, he believed that it was not difficult to teach using ESE. However, the lack of time devoted to field trips and a lack of suitable resource materials were obstacles to the implementation of the curriculum. Implications for science education and future research are suggested.

지구계 수업 모듈 중 그리기 활동을 통한 학생들의 인지 특성 분석

8학년(중학교 2학년)을 대상으로 '지구와 별' 단원의 지구계 수업 모듈을 개발하였다. 그리고 이 수업 모듈 중 태양계 행성을 학습하는 행성 리모델링 활동을 개발하였다. 이 활동의 핵심은 행성에 생명체가 살 수 있도록 행성을 리모델링하는 것이다. 본 연구에서는 쓰기와 그리기로 표현된 학생들의 생각의 시각화와 이를 통해 학생들의 이해를 해석하였다 학생들의 인지구조를 분석하기 위하여 4개로 법주화된 분석틀을 개발하여 적용하였다. 그리고 인지적 내용 특성을 분석하기 위하여 지구계의 구성 요소별 그리고 과학과 기술의 이용별로 분석 요소를 세분화하여 적용하였다. 행성 리모델링 활동을 통해 분석한 학생들의 인지에는 지구 소양과 같은 지구계 수업의 영향이 나타났다. The ESE (Earth Systems Education) teaching module was developed to teach an "Earth and Star" unit for the 8th grade (aged 14) students. The planet remodeling activity was developed as a sub-ESE teaching module. The main point of this activity was that students were supposed to remodel planets for life to live on. The purpose of this study was to visualize students' thought and to interpret their understandings through their drawings and writings. A framework of analysis with four categories was designed and applied to analyze students' cognitive structure. In order to explore students' cognitive contents, the analyzing factors were classified into two domains: subsystems of the earth systems and use of science & technology. Results revealed via the planet remodeling activity that students' cognitive characteristics were impacted by ESE activities such as Earth literacy.

An Optimistic Read on Digital Libraries

In the News story “NSF rethinks its digital library” (Special Section on Education & Technology, 2 January, p. [54][1]), J. Mervis captures the uphill struggle digital libraries have faced as they try to sustain funding and gain visibility among educators and students. However, the picture the article paints of sustainability in general and the Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE) in particular is too pessimistic. The process by which the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) assumed responsibility for the DLESE collection is attracting a good deal of attention through articles, presentations, and grants addressing models of sustainability for digital efforts. The advantages of curated digital libraries are clear to many users. DLESE's collections of Earth science materials, now managed by the NCAR Library, have been selected by educators and scientists specifically because they are scientifically accurate, grade-level appropriate, and effective for teaching. The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, which operated the technical arm of DLESE and continues to run the NSDL Resource Center, is very proud of the impact of these digital library efforts. Although DLESE has lost its NSF funding, the open-source DLESE technical infrastructure underpins initiatives at NASA, NOAA, DOE, and scientific data centers and digital libraries from Britain to China. It is notoriously difficult to demonstrate the impact of educational innovations, but a current project with Denver Public Schools leveraging DLESE collections holds promise for helping us evaluate the value of digital library collections in transforming teacher practice and learning outcomes. In many ways, NSF's investment in digital libraries has been transformative. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.323.5910.54

지구계 교육에 대한 과학 교사의 인식과 지향: 사례연구

교육활동에서 교사는 핵심적인 역할을 수행하고 있으며, 교육활동에 대한 교사들의 인식과 지향은 교육의 실천적인 맥락에서 핵심적인 요소로 작동한다. 따라서 과학교사의 지구계 수업에 대한 인식과 지향을 분석하는 것은, 지구계 교육의 목표가 현실에서 어떠한 모습으로 구현될지 가늠할 수 있게끔 한다. 이러한 생각을 바탕으로 이 연구에서는 두 명의 과학교사가 작성한 교수 학습계획안과 심층면담을 통하여 이들이 지구계 교육에 대한 인식을 알아보고, 교사의 지향을 수업에 대한 일반적 관점과 통합의 관점에서 분석하였다. 연구 결과 지구계 교육의 궁극적 겨냥점인 '전지구적 과학소양'에 대한 교사의 충분한 이해가 선행될 때 그 취지가 충분히 반영된 지구계 수업이 실천될 수 있는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 교사가 전 지구적 과학 소양을 함양하기 위해서는 네트워크 통합을 포함한 다양한 통합의 상(像)이 교사에게 구체적으로 제시될 것이 요구되었다. 아울러 현장에서 지구계 수업을 활성화하기 위해서는 지구계 교육 커리큘럼 구성에 대한 제도적인 뒷받침이 필요한 것으로 보인다. Teachers play key roles in classroom instruction. The perceptions and orientations of teachers about teaching have substantial effect on the practical context of science teaching. Analyzing science teacher's perceptions and orientations about Earth Systems Education (ESE) offers an opportunity to figure out how the goals of ESE might be dealt with. In this study, lesson plans developed by and in-depth interview results with two teachers were analyzed in terms of ESE perceptions. ESE orientations were also investigated in terms of teaching orientations and integration orientations. Research results showed that the teacher's deep understandings about 'Global Scientific Literacy (GSL)', the ultimate goal of ESE, precede the sound ESE teaching in the classroom. To enhance teachers' GSL, exemplary aspects of various integration, including networked integration, should be provided specifically to teachers. Also, the institutionalized approaches to developing ESE curriculum could help classroom teachers activate ESE teaching in their classroom.

야외지질답사 보고서에 나타난 과학영재학생들의 지구계 이해와 지구계 의미 생성 탐색

The purpose of this study was to investigate Earth Systems Understandings (Mayer, 1991) and Earth Systems meaning generation reported by science-talented students who participated in a geological field trip. The eight (4 female and 4 male students) field trip reports were randomly selected among all the reports written by twenty eighth-grade students who joined Shiwha-Lake field trip in Korea. The three-step program, including preparation, field trip, and summary, was provided to the students in order to facilitate meaningful learning through outdoor teaming activities. Seven Earth Systems Understandings and thematic types (Keys, 1999) were used to analyze the reports. The results of this study indicated thai aesthetic views and stewardship toward the Earth, which were the most distinguishing characteristics in Earth Systems Education, were reflected on most of the reports. The results also showed that the students tried to represent their understandings in such a type as meaning extension, meaning enhancement, or meaning elaboration. Overall, many students used `knowledge-telling` process with a long list of observations and facts, whereas a few students used higher-order `knowledge-transforming` process by coordinating their findings with interpretations and reasoning in their writings.

Digital Library for Earth System Education

Digital Library for Earth System Education

Digital library for Earth system education adds pedagogical links

Effectively teaching Earth science requires not only a broad understanding of geoscience topics but also strategies and tools to help students learn. For example, a teacher planning a lesson on the hydrologic cycle should know students' common misconceptions (e.g., groundwater flows as underground rivers), how studying the water cycle can contribute to students' understanding of systems and processes, how to leverage students' firsthand experiences with water fluxes and reservoirs to inform class discussion, and how to assess what students know and understand about the water cycle.Such knowledge of how to teach effectively within a discipline is called “pedagogical content knowledge,” or PCK. A new service within the Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE) seeks to help educators teach more effectively by providing them with access to relevant PCK as they prepare to teach a given topic, issue, lesson, or idea. DLESE (http://www.dlese.org) is a Web‐based portal providing access to curriculum materials and information resources for teaching and learning about the Earth and its environment.

Taiwanese Earth Science Curriculum Guidelines and Their Relationships to the Earth Systems Education of the United States

The purpose of this paper is four fold as follows: (1) to sketch the Taiwanese educational system and Earth science education; (2) to introduce the mandatory Earth science components of SaLTS (Science and Life Technology curriculum Standards) for grade nine and the requisite components of TESCG (Tentative Earth Science Curriculum Guidelines) at the tenth-grade level in Taiwan; (3) to make a critical analysis comparing SaLTS (as well as TESCG) and the Earth Systems Education (ESE) of the Untied States; and finally (4) to provide a framework of school Earth-science curriculum content in the global context from the perspectives of Taiwan.

Digital Library of Earth Systems Education: Collections Assessment

Digital Library of Earth Systems Education: Collections Assessment