9355721 Braile This four year project serves ninety earth science teachers from six midwestern states. Each year thirty teachers will attend 4- week intensive summer workshops, 2-weekend workshops during the academic year, and a 1-day workshop at a national NSTA meeting. The enhancement activities include: improving their content knowledge of current concepts and application of earth processes; introducing skills through modern technology using computers; taking an extended field trip in the midwest region; and practicing presentations and other hands-on experiences. The program takes place in two parts with the summer teacher enhancement workshops occurring during years 1, 2 and 3 while the academic year follow-up occurs in years 2, 3 and 4. The central content theme of Earth processes is complemented by activities which will prepare teachers to disseminate their understanding of earth processes through the use of materials, activities, and modeling teaching skills at local inservice workshops and regional and national presentations. Participants will be required to conduct at least one inservice workshop for their peers. This will be facilitated by providing them with guided grant writing experiences. Participants may earn six semester hours of course credit: 3-semester hours in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and 3-semester hours in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, all at Purdue University.
