The three available courses for teachers of grades K-4, 5-8, and 9-12 are delivered completely over the Internet and feature student-centered, knowledge-building virtual communities, yet maintain the feel of a classroom.
The K-4 teachers' ESS course engages primary school teachers in online collaborative activities emphasizing the use of hands-on activities, with the goal of laying an early foundation of ESS knowledge upon which students can build as they progress through their K-12 experiences.
The ESS course for Middle School teachers implements a student-centered Earth system science based classroom where participants learn from the student's point of view. Teachers participating in this course work in collaborative groups to tackle problems and information that are often completely new to them. Active participation, and reflection on learning in a student-centered model, enables participants to transfer new learning techniques to their own teaching.
Teachers participating in the High School ESS course will engage in a collaborative, inquiry-based electronic environment: team with fellow teachers, analyze the impact of Earth events on spheres, develop Earth systems models, research Problem Based Learning (PBL), and create ESS and PBL activities to use in their classrooms.
Quote: "I begin my 31st year of teaching next week and I can't wait to incorporate some of these techniques into my teaching. It has really given me a new approach to connecting aspect sof learning and [I] can't wait to plan an interdisciplinary unit with my team using this approach!"