WK 9

Engaging K-12 Educators in Teaching and Learning about Urban Ecosystems (CANCELLED)

Teaching about cities as ecosystems can be thrilling and challenging. We can help K-12 teachers build the knowledge, skills, confidence and motivation needed to use urban areas for student learning. Using local socio-ecological systems as subjects of study has the added advantages of being readily available for first hand exploration and directly relevant to students’ lives. Workshop participants will experience professional development (PD) strategies from the Baltimore Partnership for Environmental Science Literacy including: 1) engaging teachers in authentic learning of science content and practices needed to understand ecosystems, and about how students learn; 2) reflecting on and practicing effective teaching strategies; 3) using educative instructional materials and resources; 4) forming a professional learning community of teachers and scientists; and 5) providing on-going support. Research with thousands of students at four LTER sites has produced compelling learning progression models of how students develop principle- and evidence-based reasoning about: 1) water movement and quality, 2) carbon cycling, and 3) biodiversity. Learn how to use these models in PD that emphasizes teaching in and about urban ecosystems.

Workshop participants will: 1) engage in activities used successfully in workshops to help teachers develop their knowledge and skills in ecology and student learning; 2) reflect on their experiences as learners and then as teachers; 3) explore ways to respond to student thinking about “big ideas” in environmental science; 4) learn about curriculum modules and PD in each topic area; and 5) consider ways to incorporate these strategies and resources into their own PD with teachers.