Research > EOS-SEI
EOS Science Education Initiative
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Description and general project goal
The EOS Science Education Initiative (EOS-SEI) was a 7 year departmental initiative carried out between 2007 and 2014 under the auspices of UBC's Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative ( CWSEI ). The aim was to increase the effectiveness of post-secondary science education for all undergraduate students taking courses offered by our Department. Specific intentions:
- Faculty will increase their understanding about learning and their expertise at teaching;
- Proven pedagogic strategies will be incorporated into our courses;
- Teaching and administration of our undergarduate programs and courses will become more data-driven and evidence-based;
- All changes & innovations will become a permanent part of the Department's commitment to excellence in teaching;
- Where relevant and when possible, results of innovations will be disseminated in a scholarly manner.
Progress summaries and other information
- Evolving Educational Culture in EOAS: Toward Transformative Learning. An essay about EOS-SEI (April 2014).
- Summary of graduate and undergraduate student contributions from 2007 through Dec 2012.
- EOS-SEI research page updated to identify 25 science and geoscience education research projects since 2007, and their status as of January 2013. See also a complete list of research communications since 2007, including publications, presentations/posters and workshops.
- Our EOS-SEI Times is a monthly 2-pg summaries of keys to undergraduate science education, emphasising EOS Departmental successes.
- Resources about learning, teaching and science education - mostly SHORT and very easy to use.
- Long term project plan: This is an outline (January 2009) of plans for this 5 year project. It is constantly evolving.
- Contacts for information about EOS-SEI or help with teaching in our Department.
From the proposal of Dec 1, 2006, goals were summarized in two parts as follows. (PDF of the proposal.)
1) To promote student achievement of the following learning outcomes:
- Develop skills for making reasoned judgments based on scientific evidence and organized knowledge.
- Enhance the ability to transfer knowledge, skills and concepts to new situations or contexts, for professional, academic, or general societal purposes.
- Develop the ability to assess and remedy one's own understanding.
- Achieve an appropriate balance between breadth and depth of knowledge, in order to recognize and express linkages among systems and concepts.
- Explore the interacting frameworks of economic development and environmental stewardship in the richly multi-disciplinary context of earth, ocean, and atmospheric sciences.
2) As a department, we will expand and coordinate our efforts in the following areas:
- Increase teaching effectiveness and efficiency in our undergraduate courses and programs.
- Raise university-wide levels of scientific literacy and global awareness.
- Emphasize contemporary thought and new directions in science and science education.
- Enable, facilitate, and support faculty and TAs to follow best practices for achieving departmental teaching and learning goals while retaining ownership of their courses.