INTRODUCTION

WELCOME!

Welcome to the National Teachers Enhancement Network telecomputing course "Internet-Based K-14 Earth Systems Science!"

This is likely to be a new mode of instruction for many of you, and we want you to know right at the very start that we are here to answer your questions and to help you to a successful completion of the course materials.

The World Wide Web and Internet are about communication; we really are going through a revolution in communication. If you have any years left in your teaching career, you will not be able to avoid web-based educational activities.

The bottom line is communication: you must communicate with me in order for your questions to be answered and for this class to be successful for you!

Instructor Contact Information:

E-mail:

gnelson@acad.cc.whecn.edu (0ffice)

gnelson@coffey.com (Home)

jnelson@msulink.montana.edu

Telephone:

Office: 307-268-2348

Home: 307-266-6440

FAX: 307-268-2041

Snail-mail Office:

Dr. Jerry Nelson

Chair, Physical Sciences Division

Casper College

125 College Drive

Casper, Wyoming 82601

Target Audience

This course is designed for teachers at the K-14 levels who are interested in integrating math and science education with computer technology and Internet resources.

Goals

This course is about integrating the WWW and Internet technologies with science and mathematics - therefore my primary goal is that you come away from the course with an understanding of these technologies and the ability to integrate them into your classrooms. This class is also content-based, so a second primary goal is that you finish the course with an understanding and appreciation of Earth Systems Science.

Earth Systems Science Defined

Earth Systems Science emphasizes the dynamic interrelationships between the atmosphere system, the geosphere system, the hydrosphere system, and the biosphere system. Topics will concentrate on interactions within and between the environmental spheres. The emphasis will be on depth within a topic area, rather than breadth.

Developers

Earth Systems Science materials were designed by a team of K-14 teachers, Montana State University Faculty, and scientists for the Network Montana Project; they will be used as model lessons for the participants in this course.

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