Geoscience Education in the Mountain State:
NSTA
National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
As a group and individually, RockCampers have shared their science education ideas
with NSTA convention audiences for many years. Sessions have ranged from individual presentations to
our own version of a shar-a-thon. Since 1993 RockCamp has supported, financially and with materials, 29 teachers
in their efforts to become more involved in professional development outreach. Recently, we have had the
privilege of sharing what we have learned over the years at regional NSTA short courses in
Boise (2000), Columbus (2001), and Portland (2002). These sessions were designed to heighten awareness of
applying constructivist techniques to the teaching of historical geology. Each short course focused on
inquiry-based, national standards-oriented methods that entice learners to construct solid understandings of
introductory historial geology concepts. We shared our "4C" method of actively engaging learners in the ongoing
process of comparing, contrasting, and connecting to enable them to construct understandings of geologic time,
depositional environments, plate tectonics, fossils, and more. Our "4C" process is the result our experience in
conducting teacher professional development experiences through the West Virginia RockCamp Program.
NSTA Gallery
Click here for more information about the
National Science Teachers Association
For more information, contact Tom Repine, WVGES Education Specialist (repine@geosrv.wvnet.edu)
Page last revised: January 5, 2006
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