Abstract'Spatial Thinking' in Environmental Technology Public School Curriculum Track: Designing Curriculum for Schools Author(s): William Budke Ventura College was awarded a two year, Career Technical Education Economic and Workforce Development Pathways grant to expand vocational and career opportunities for middle and high school students in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) & Global Positioning Systems (GPS) with an environmental science emphasis. Project goals are to improve "spatial thinking" in curriculum at all levels of public school education leading to 2+2 transition program of study for vocational technical training and career pathways to higher wage, higher skilled GIS / GPS and environmental industry jobs. Curriculum modules created for the project will include methods and materials necessary for the proper sampling of air, water, and soil. Field data collected from sampling will be used to generate and supplement a GeoDatabase for the local river Watersheds. Training modules will be produced and disseminated in both English and Spanish language formats, online a Ventura College Website developed specifically for this project. William Budke Ventura College Geosciences 4667 Telegraph Road Ventura , CA 93003 US Phone: (805) 729-0545 E-mail: wbudke@vcccd.net |