Virtual Critical Zone Teacher Academy (2021-2022)

This virtual STEM teacher academy is part of the NSF funded CZNet Big Data project and focusses on addressing critical needs in culturally sustainable education. Several modules over the course of a year moved us from "Getting to Know Each Other and Identifying Critical Needs," to "Place-Based Science and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy", to the "Nature of Science and Next Generation Science Standards," and "The Art of Addressing Ethical Issues in Science Education". We deepened our understanding of scientific inquiry and educational standards and engaged in important discussions on navigating ethical considerations within the classroom. Since the academy, our cross-institutional team from Jackson State University and the University of Vermont is building on our learning and relationships and is engaging in further projects such as  "Community Voices for Water Education" and "CZ-CREST".

Teachers incorporated these aspects in their lessons, including the "Critical Zone in a cup", a part of Standards-Aligned Water Education:

• Ecology and Interdependence
• Explore effects of human interaction with Earth’s natural resources like clean fresh water, and how these can be protected, restored, and conserved
• Demonstrate problem-solving and systems thinking to develop real-world solutions for biodiversity and the health of human-environmental systems
• Cultivate water literacy and career-readiness through student awareness, appreciation, and action in their local watersheds

PI's and instructors: Julia Perdrial, Donna Rizzo, Regina Toolin, Leon Walls, Chandar Lewis, Jacqueline Jackson, Michael Blouin, and Deidre Wheaton.