Location:

Montana

Description:
The University of Montana (UM) provides a technology learning center for professional teacher training and teacher in-service, which brings remote-sensing and basic Geographic Information System (GIS) applications into the classroom. Using data products provided by UM's Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group (NTSG) and supplementing ongoing educational programs, UM's learning center introduces the latest remote-sensing concepts to the next generation of science classrooms in Montana.

UM has developed an online, for credit, course program for pre-service and in-service education of the teachers of Montana, as well as the technical components to expand this program nationally and internationally. This project brings online Earth system science courses developed by the Center for Educational Technology at Wheeling Jesuit University into the UM learningenvironment, presented through the e-College network.

Additionally, the project plans outreach and study of online courses for the Montana Native American population, working closely with several reservations across Montana. During the first year, the project will focus on one reservation and then expand over the three-year program to integrate operations in state and national hosts. Immediate impact is expected on Montana classrooms, with plans to explore the impact on Native American classrooms where special conditions and constraints may prevail. Project evaluation will delve deeply into the perceived meaning of scientific understandings in the Native American teaching corps and examine how these meanings are communicated in their classrooms and the kinds of environments created.

Organization:
University of Montana (UM)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
 

Cost:
Free, participants selected by application

Contact:
John Kuglin, Director of Educational Outreach, University of Montana, or Wes Snyder, Research Professor of Education, University of Montana, James E. Todd Building, Missoula, Montana 58912; Phone: (406) 243-6334; Fax: (406) 243-2047; Email: jkuglin@selway.umt.edu

Education Level:
Kindergarten-Grade 4
Grades 5-8
Grades 9-12
Undergraduate

Subject:
Earth System Science
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Remote Sensing

Program type:
Course
Curriculum Development/Support
Educational Technology
Teacher Training (In-service)
Teacher Training (Pre-service)

Date Added to teachearth.com:
5/1/00