MADE CLEAR: Systemic, sustainable climate change science education

Abstract:

State-led development, adoption, and implementation of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for K-12 education requires climate change science curriculum, teacher professional development, and student assessments for classroom use. As part of NSF's Climate Change Education Partnership Program, the Maryland Delaware Climate Change Education, Assessment and Research (MADE CLEAR) project is a five year study making connections between climate scientists, K-12 educators, informal educators, and campus faculty to produce systemic impacts on public knowledge of climate change science. Few K-12 science classrooms incorporate climate change science currently, and will be required to do so at full NGSS implementation. MADE CLEAR is fostering teamwork across a network of diverse academic, government, and local district partners in both states to bring effective climate change science instruction to classrooms in Maryland and Delaware as NGSS are implemented. The project will supplement newly developed curricula with place-based, locally-relevant multimedia content designed to engage students and teachers in a meaningful way. Through partnerships with the Departments of Education and local school districts in both states the project team is ensuring the instruction will be delivered to students and sustained beyond the life of the grant. The importance and utility of informal science education as a means of achieving NGSS instruction is also being emphasized through collaborations with regional informal science education institutions. Newly minted teachers also need improved access to climate change science content. MADE CLEAR is working with faculty at University of Maryland College Park, Towson University, University of Delaware, and Delaware State University to inventory current climate change instruction in science and non-science University classrooms, provide faculty professional development in climate change, and improve access of pre-service science teachers to climate change science content. Successes and challenges will inform efforts for classroom climate change science instruction nationally as NGSS adoption continues.