MidOcean Ridge Science Education for Teachers

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Mid-Ocean Ridge Science Education for
Teachers

• Ridge 2000
• National Science Foundation
• Penn State University

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Purpose of Meeting

• To explore ways that Conferences and Institutes
  can work with the Ridge 2000 Program to bring
  this exciting science to the K-12 community.

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Agenda

• Background
• What is Ridge 2000?
• EO Goals
• Why Ridge Science for Teachers?
• Ridge 2000 EO Plans
• Integrated Ridge Science Education Program
• Possible Workshop Offering
• Discussion

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What is Ridge 2000?

• Ridge 2000 is a research initiative focused on
  understanding the geological and biological
  processes of the mid-ocean ridges.
• It is a community of scientists from multiple
  disciplines and research institutions across the
  country.
• The program is currently administered at Penn
  State under Dr. Charles Fisher.
• This research initiative is funded by the
  National Science Foundation.

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Ridge 2000 Education Outreach Goal

• To bring exciting research-based science into
  middle and high school classrooms.
• The best way to do this is to provide teachers
  with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary
  to incorporate real science into their
  curriculum. - Mystic Workshop participants

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Why Ridge Science?

• For the last 20 years, ridge spreading centers
  have been very active areas of research, yielding
  fundamental discoveries regarding plate tectonics
  and life in extreme environments.
• Although groundbreaking science, its not
  typically covered well in schools.
• Its really exciting, engaging science!

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Ridge 2000 EO Plans

• Integrated Ridge Science Education Program
• Curriculum modules tied to National Education
  Standards.
• Participation in research cruises via
  interactive web sites.
• Teacher Professional Development.

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Ridge 2000 EO Plans

• Teacher Professional Development
• REVEL - Teacher at Sea Program
• Distance Education Course for Teachers
• On-line Short Course (e.g. JASON Academy)
• Local Teacher Workshops

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Target Audience

• Primary Audience
• In-service secondary school science teachers
  (primarily earth science, but also biology,
  physics, and chemistry teachers)
• Pre-service teachers?
• Why are teachers interested?
• Continuing ed credits to maintain certification
• Advanced degrees to increase salary

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Course/Workshop Objectives

• Students will gain an understanding of --
• mid-ocean ridge science
• basic geology, geochemistry, geophysics, biology,
  and ecology of these systems and how these
  disciplines are integrated
• deep-sea technology and applications
• how to incorporate this science into their
  curriculum

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Specific Topics Covered

• Basic Earth Structure (core, mantle, crust)
• Plate motion/tectonics,
• Earthquakes volcanic eruptions
• Seismology as a diagnostic tool
• Geochemistry
• Rock/Sea water interactions, formation of
  chimneys
• Sulfides and other vent chemistry
• Geophysics
• Physical characteristics of the environment
  (temp, pressure, light)
• Water column and plume dynamics
• Biology/Ecology
• Microbes and subsurface biosphere
• Chemosynthesis as basis of food web
• Organisms living at vent sites / Communities
• Diversity and Adaptations
• Colonization and Succession

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Specific Topics (continued)

• Deep-sea Technology
• History of submersibles, how it enables, drives,
  limits research
• Types of technology (ALVIN, ABE, ROVs)
• Challenges of conducting research in remote
  environment
• Major Discoveries
• Plate tectonics
• Life in the extreme
• Communities without sunlight
• Applications in the classroom
• Geosciences / Earth Sciences classes
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics

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What Ridge 2000 and Ocean Sciences Community
Brings

• Access to current research topics and expertise.
• Guest lecturers drawn from Ridge 2000 community.
• Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence
  (COSEE) may provide venues for workshops
  nationwide.

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Other Considerations

• We are currently developing a Student Experiment
  at Sea Program
• We also plan to provide live web-based coverage
  of 1-2 research cruises per school year (student
  level)
• These efforts will significantly help teachers
  bring this science to life in their classrooms!

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Discussion of Workshop Offering

• Does this fit with PSU teacher workshop
  offerings?
• How do we address a national audience of
  teachers?
• What role can CI play?
• Funding?