UNLV's Department of Geosciences is collaborating with the Clark County School District (CCSD) to use some of Southern Nevada's best-known outdoor areas to help teachers improve their science curriculum and instructional methods.

The program, called "Teaching Teachers through Field Experiences," introduces CCSD educators to an Earth-Systems approach to teaching, which involves studying the planet as a compilation of interconnected subsystems, including the lithosphere (earth), hydrosphere (water), biosphere (life), atmosphere (air), exosphere (solar system), and the androsphere (human aspect). Teachers learn about each system during hands-on field experiences aboard the Forever Earth floating laboratory on Lake Mead and interactive exercises in the Red Rock Conservation Area.

The four-day program aims to help teachers of grades 3-5 incorporate earth science principles into their curriculum and to model interdisciplinary teaching practices that support better content comprehension.

"The goal of this project is to improve science education and increase the number and competency of earth science teachers in CCSD," said Kimberly Johnson, UNLV geosciences professor and lead instructor of the program. "If this program proves successful, we hope to expand it to include additional grade levels in Clark County and possibly other school districts around the state as well."

Participating teachers are given pre- and post-field experience assessment tests to measure the efficacy of the pilot program. The first session, which was held in February to a limited number of teachers, received rave reviews.

"The success of our first session generated quite a buzz and we were forced to turn applicants away," Johnson said. "It shows a great desire among teachers to improve and diversify their approaches to teaching science. We hope to accommodate all interested teachers in the future."

According to the Third International Mathematics and Science Study--the largest international study of student achievement ever conducted--U.S. students rank below their counterparts in 17 other countries in math and science literacy by the time they reach their senior year of high school. Through this program and others coordinated by UNLV's Center for Math and Science Education, the university and CCSD are collaborating to reverse this trend by helping teachers to employ best practices and integrate innovative teaching methods into their curriculum.

Johnson is currently pursuing additional funding from the National Science Foundation to continue and expand the program. In the future, UNLV's Center for Math and Science Education will grant continuing education credit to teachers who complete the program.

The results of the training program will be presented at various educational conferences and to the Journal of Geoscience Education this summer.

Other partners in this project include UNLV's Center for Math and Science Education and the Public Lands Institute.