Bringing global climate change education to Alabama high-school classrooms

Abstract

A Global Climate Change Education (GCCE) Program has been launched in Alabama to improve high school and public education in climate change science. The overarching goal is to generate a better informed public that understand the consequences of climate change and can contribute to sound decision making on related issues. With funding provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), new educational modules are incorporated into the existing course of study for 9-12 grade biology, chemistry, and physics classes. Teachers are trained in the use of these modules for their classroom through partnership with Alabama Science in Motion (ASIM) and the Alabama Math Science Technology Initiative (AMSTI). Certified AMSTI teachers attend summer professional development workshops taught by ASIM specialists to learn to use GCCE modules. During the school year, the ASIM specialists in turn deliver the needed equipment to conduct GCCE classroom exercises and serve as an in-classroom resource for ASIM teachers and their students. Scientists are partnered with ASIM specialists and leading teachers to implement and test efficacy of instructional materials, models, and NASA climate change data used in classroom. The assessment by professional evaluators after the development of the modules and the training of teachers indicates that the modules are complete, clear, and user-friendly. The overall teacher satisfaction from the teacher training was 4.88/5.00. After completing the module teacher training, the teachers reported a strong agreement that the content developed in the GCCE modules should be included in the Alabama secondary curriculum. Eventually, the GCCE program has the potential to reach over 200,000 students when the modules are fully implemented in every school in the state of Alabama. The project can give these students access to expertise and equipment, thereby strengthening the connections between the universities, state education administrators, and the community.