Virtual Study Spaces
The various spaces listed below are where you will study and work individually and with the other participants and your facilitator. You will need to link to these actual virtual study spaces through the Classroom. An overview of what you will do in each of these virtual study spaces is included below.

Teacher as Problem Solver
You will work in the Teacher as Problem Solver Space during Week A (4, 7, 10 and 13). You will individually identify what you believe to be true and the reasons why you have those beliefs regarding the event. Then, as a team, you will build ESS knowledge about the event described in the scenario and develop a problem statement.

Teacher as Model Builder
You will work in the Teacher as Model Builder Space during Week B (5, 8, 11 and 14). Using your original or revised problem statement, your team will build an ESS model that includes the ESS relationship statements and evidence that support your conclusions (recommendations or solutions).

Teacher as Designer
You will work in the Teacher as Designer Space during Week C (6, 9, 12 and 15). Using what you have learned about PBL lessons from the student perspective, you will individually design PBL lessons for your students. Your PBL lessons should be focused on an Earth system science event. Post your lessons for feedback from your critical friend. Then, you will act as a critical friend to at least one teammate to assess his or her PBL lesson and offer suggestions for improvement.

Portfolio
The portfolio is the place where you submit your individual and team assignments. When you submit an assignment, you will use a rubric to rate it and provide a rationale for your rating. Your facilitator will also rate it, as well as your classmates when they are acting as critical friends. You will be able to review all the ratings and comments.

Course Space
The facilitator uses Course Space to give instructions, clarify concepts, and answer questions; participants use Course Space to request guidance, reply to the facilitator's queries, and--in Week 1--to meet the other course participants.

Resource Space
Throughout the course, the developers, facilitator, and participants may submit those resources thought to be particularly useful both to participating teachers' professional development and their students' use in the classroom. These resources may be designed by you, or they may simply be compelling activities you have found (e.g., on the Internet, on one of the course's CDs, or in other sources). They may include compelling and/or favorite web sites or activities you have found or used.

Please remember that some materials are copyrighted. Be sure to include a full citation. If they are commercial, the source must be cited.

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