Geology 204/ ScEd 204 H

Earth Systems Science for Teachers

A NASA-approved Online Class

Instructor: Paula Messina
Office: Duncan Hall Room 307, San Jose State University
Phone: 408/924-5027
General ESSEA E-Mail*: essea@geosun.sjsu.edu
Home Page: http://geosun.sjsu.edu/~pmessina
Office Hours: Thurs. 1:00 - 3:00 PM, by appointment, and online.

Course Home Page: http://courses5.webct.com/public/geol204hpm/

*Once enrolled, please use the Course Home Page interface to e-mail the professor of this course.

Course Goals: The focus of this course is on your developing Earth system science knowledge using the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Model. You can then apply what you have learned about Earth system science and Problem-Based Learning to your own student classrooms and school curriculum.

Assessment: Assessment is related to the roles you will perform during the class. The grades you will accrue will be distributed as follows:

Teacher as Inquirer (Weeks 4, 8, 12) 24 points

Teacher as Researcher (Weeks 5, 9, 13) 15 points

Teacher as Model Builder (Weeks 6, 10, 14) 30 points

Teacher as Designer (Weeks 7, 11, 15) 21 points

Final Project (Week 16) 10 points

Note that weeks 1 - 3 are composed of "practice" exercises that are not graded.  

During some weeks, one assignment will be due; during others; two will be due. Specific assignments are detailed on the Online Course Outline. Assignments are always due on Wednesdays and/or Sundays at midnight, Pacific Time. Note that the WebCT server runs its clocks on Eastern Time, so—if you live on the West Coast-- you will have until 3 A.M. (EST/EDT) to submit assignments.

Please note: It is the policy of the University and this Department that a course may not be dropped after February 17, 2004. After February 17, dropping a course is permissible only for serious and compelling reasons. See Schedule of Classes for details.

Required Textbooks: All required materials will be mailed to you as a member of this course, free of charge. Other assigned readings will be available online, linked to the course web pages.
Syllabus

Week

Dates

Teacher's Role

Topic

Assignments

Individual

Team

1

1/29-2/8

Getting Acquainted

Orientation

Read the Intro. Read the Guide. Read about Earth system science. Read about Netiquette. Do the Pre-Course Survey.

Meet and name your team.

2

2/9-2/15

Read about the PBL Model and how it can be integrated with the ESS analysis. Practice PBL and ESS with the Volcano Scenario.

Work with your teammates on the Volcano Scenario.

3

2/16-2/22

Read about hypotheses, ESS analyses, questions, and problem statements.

Examine and make suggestions for the PBL. Design Rubric criteria.

4

2/23-2/29

Inquirer

Coral Reefs

Private Theory—List your private theories.

 Knowledge-Building—Ask and answer questions; write a problem statement.

5

3/1-3/7

Researcher

Complete the coral reef WebQuest.

6

3/8-3/14

Model Builder

 

ESS Model-Building—Do an ESS analysis; present findings with solutions and recommendations.

7

3/15-3/21

Designer

PBL Lesson Design--Design a PBL lesson; act as a critical friend to a teammate; reflect on your learning.

 

8

3/22-3/28

Inquirer

Tropical Forests

Private Theory—List your private theories.

 Knowledge-Building—Ask and answer questions; write a problem statement.

March 29 - April 4
Spring break: No classes

9

4/5-4/11

Researcher

Complete the tropical forest WebQuest.

10

4/12-4/18

Model Builder

 

ESS Model-Building—Do an ESS analysis; present findings with solutions and recommendations.

11

4/19-4/25

Designer

PBL Lesson Design--Design a PBL lesson; act as a critical friend to a teammate; reflect on your learning.

 

12

4/26-5/2

Inquirer

Global Change

Private Theory—List your private theories.

 Knowledge-Building—Ask and answer questions; write a problem statement.

13

5/3-5/9

Researcher

Complete the global change WebQuest.

14

5/10-5/16

Model Builder

 

ESS Model-Building—Do an ESS analysis; present findings with solutions and recommendations.

15

5/17-5/23

Designer

PBL Lesson Design--Design a PBLlesson; act as a critical friend to a teammate; reflect on your learning.

 

16

5/24-5/30

Synthesizer

Wrap-up

Do the Final Project. Do the Post-Course Surveys.