Geoscience Education in the Mountain State:
RockCamp I
RockCamp I
RockCamp I is an introductory session that serves as a springboard for participation
in advanced field-oriented sessions. Using a '4C' inquiry approach (comparing, contrasting,
connecting, and constructing), our team of geologists and science educators introduce West
Virginia K-12 teachers to the most recent developments in geology content and teaching strategies.
RockCamp began in 1992 with funding supplied by thte National Science Foundation and the West
Virginia Department of Education. In 1996, the decision was made to continue the program with
WVGES funding. RockCamp I is a two-week, summer-residency institute offered every other
summer. As many as 20 participants are selected.
According to a third-party program evaluation (Meehan, 1997 and Meehan, Hambrick, and Cowley, 1995),
during every academic year each RockCamp graduate provides, on average, 107 students with two units,
nine lessons, seven activities, and 36 hours of instruction derived directly from that teacher's
RockCamp experience. In addition, each teacher shares materials and idead with an average of nine
colleagues every school year. This outreach effort has enabled RockCamp graduates to provide new
and additional earth science instruction and classroom ideas to thousands of teachers, which
benefits tens of thousands of students.
Providing continued support and encouragement to K-12 teachers is perhaps the most important
role of the WVGES Education Outreach Program. The two weeks spent with each group of teachers
should only be the beginning of our commitment to providing teachers with opportunities and ideas
aimed at maintaining their interest in teaching earch science to students.
For more information, contact Tom Repine, WVGES Education Specialist (repine@wvgs.wvnet.edu)
Page last revised: January 4, 2006
