MSU Offering Geoscience Education to Teachers by Distance Learning

Starkville, Miss. -- A Mississippi State University program enables K - 12 school teachers nationwide to earn a Master's of Science degree from the university through distance learning by use of videotapes, workbooks and the Internet.

Through the Teachers in Geoscience (TIG) Program, teachers have the option to either enroll in selected geoscience courses or earn an M.S. degree. The curriculum includes 11 courses of which 2 may be taken per semester.

Director Mark Binkley said the TIG Program targets teachers who wish to continue their education but are unable to interrupt their careers for any significant length of time.

"We've set the program up so participants can earn a Master's degree in geoscience in two years by taking two courses a semester," he explained.

Binkley, a professor in the geoscience department, said the curriculum includes courses in meteorology, geology, oceanography, hydrology, physical geography and planetary science.

"What is unique about this program," noted Mike Mogil, an educational consultant for the program, "is that teachers will not only receive intensive education in the sciences, but they will experience the hands-on methodology for helping their students learn. The science content will become immediately "grade-friendly', as each course will contain a strand of 'educational applications' that are appropriate for teachers in grades K-4, 5-8 and 9-12".

Videotaped lectures, course materials and learning exercises will be mailed to students at the beginning of the semester. The tapes contain 12 hours of lectures that may be used an any grade level, plus 4 additional lectures that are grade-specific. Texts and workbooks are ordered through the MSU Bookstore. Information will also be available via the Internet. Lesson plans, technical discussions, appropriate web links, and other Internet resources will be made available to better enable teachers to see how the Internet technology can be incorporated into their classrooms.

"While we provide a framework of dates for completion of each section of a course, the students work at their own pace," said Binkley.

Department of Geoscience faculty members are available to assist the students by telephone, electronic mail, fax or by bulletin boards and chat rooms on the internet.

The TIG Program is based on the department's highly successful Broadcast Meteorology Program (for television weathercasters) and Operational Meteorology Program (for military personnel). These two programs currently serve almost 400 off-campus students.

For more information, contact the TIG Program at (601) 325-2908 or send an e-mail message to Binkley@Geosci.MsState.Edu. Further information about the program (updated periodically) can be found on the Internet at http://www.distance.msstate.edu/geosciences/TIG/index.html or at http://www.weatherworks.com/about.msu.tig.html.