LIHU‘E — Dr. Stephen Taylor, a Kaua‘i Community College professor, is in Vancouver, Canada this week, helping to develop a new course on global environmental problems, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa geophysics professor and chair of oceanography Jane Schoomaker is
LIHU‘E — Dr. Stephen Taylor, a Kaua‘i Community College professor, is in Vancouver, Canada this week, helping to develop a new course on global environmental problems,
University of Hawai‘i at Manoa geophysics professor and chair of oceanography Jane Schoomaker is with Taylor, according to a KCC press release.
“Students often ask about climate change and other problems. They want to know how serious it really is or what can realistically be done about it,” Taylor said.
“We want to give students the skills to answer these questions for their selves.”
The UH professors have joined faculty, researchers, and education experts at the University of British Columbia for the one-week session.
“The ability to critically evaluate new ideas represents the ultimate goal,” Taylor said.
The team is working to find an effective framework for helping students to reach that goal for the physical-science aspects of environmental challenges like climate change.
The trip is funded by the National Science Foundation and the course should be offered at both KCC and UH-Manoa in spring 2011, the release states.
Taylor said offering the class is just the first step. They plan to scientifically measure what students learn and adapt methods to improve results.
“Our students are our voters and become our leaders. What environmental challenges they will face? We want them to be ready to evaluate threats and take reasonable actions,” said Taylor.
The primary goal of the visit is to initiate a long-term collaboration between researchers from UH and the University of British Columbia to advance the proficiency of students in physics, chemistry, biology, and geology through engaging new courses on global environmental challenges, states the National Science Foundation grant project summary.
The planning visit will enable researchers to develop and assess the effectiveness of a new undergraduate curriculum on global environmental challenges for non-science majors. The team will adapt a scientific approach to teaching and developing the curriculum.
Specifically, the team will:
— establish what students should learn from the introductory courses;
— scientifically measure what students are learning;
— adapt instructional methods and curriculum;
— incorporate effective use of technology and pedagogical research to achieve desired learning outcomes.
The team plans to disseminate the effective strategies and courses to all community colleges and universities in the UH system, as well as University of British Columbia, the release states.
