Engaging High School STEM and Special Education Teachers in Innovative Geoscience Teaching, Learning, and Research Environments
The GEOPAths project aims to spread awareness of the geoscience field to the upcoming generation. High school educators will be guided on how geoscience can be integrated into their core science curriculum through techniques that are inclusive to all students; including those with a disability, are first-generation students, or are learning English as an additional language.
Grant funded by:
The National Science Foundation
IUSE: GEOPAths-IN project 2021-2024 (Ongoing)
Grant Project Number: 75190
GeoEd Workshop is an excellent opportunity to both meet with fellow science educators along with presenting an Earth-centered perspective on a broad range of course topics. Connecting chemistry, biology and physics with the world students live in is another way of showing them how interconnected we truly are, bringing new opportunities to approach familiar lessons.
Hunter O.
High School Science Teacher
Associated Events
High School Teachers
GEOPAths-GeoEd Workshop
A 5-day workshop for high school teachers of STEM and Special Education being held at the UNG Gainesville Campus June 12—16, 2023. Includes a virtual field trip convened by Dr. William Witherspoon, author of Geology of Georgia.
Dr. Rajkumar demonstrating the geoscience PBL method in Southeast Australia
Objectives
Develop Integrative Project-Based Learning Content: To facilitate STEM and Special Education teachers' application of acquired geoscience skills, as well as students' exposure to geoscience content and its career opportunities in pre-college students. An accessible version of each of these projects will also be developed in order to create inclusive curricula for students with a wide range of disabilities that may include learning, physical, and sensory disabilities.
Professional Skill Development: To provide STEM and Special Education teachers with specific geoscience skills for implementing the developed PBL content during summer workshops.
Mentoring and Research Shadowing: To facilitate Georgia's high school students' research experience and introduction to geoscience career opportunities during the summer. Students will receive one on one mentoring with UNG faculty and/or undergraduate research students conducting geoscience research.
Principal Investigator (PI)
Katayoun Mobasher, Ph.D. Professor of Geology and Geospatial Technology
Co-Investigators (Co-PIs)
Adrianna Rajkumar, Ph.D. Lecturer of Geosciences
Cristina Washell, Ed. D Department Head, Elementary and Special Education (ESE)