AbstractRural STEM Geospatial Lessons Track: Designing Curriculum for Schools Author(s): Mark Blanchard, Robert Kolvoord With funding from the U.S. Department of Education, the National Center for Rural STEM (in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Outreach at James Madison University developed middle school geospatial technology-based lessons for various content areas. An experienced curriculum development team (varied grade levels, content areas and experience with GIS and GPS in the classroom) developed geospatial lessons ideas. Concurrently, twenty-one rural based middle school teachers were introduced to AEJEE and ArcGIS 9. Ideas derived from brainstorming sessions and surveying the classroom teachers' needs for data and curricula. The resulting large list of ideas was matched to subject areas, state and national standards, and a GIS skills development sequence. Some lessons were drafted and tested during summer training; while others were drafted, tested, and revised during the school year, and all were posted on the Web. This session will share lessons and development processes, and discuss future work. Mark Blanchard James Madison University Integrated Science and Technology 9350 Peter Roy Court Burke , VA 22015 US Phone: 703-569-6514 E-mail: blanchml@jmu.edu Robert Kolvoord James Madison University Integrated Science and Technology ISAT Dept. Carrier Drive msc 4102 Harrisonburg , VA 22807 US Phone: 540-568-2752 E-mail: kolvoora@jmu.edu |