Infusing GLOBE Protocols and Observations into the AMS Climate Studies Course

The fundamental goal of the AMS Climate Studies Diversity Project, Promoting Diversity on a Changing Planet, focuses on attracting young people to science and science related careers, with a specific focus on minorities. As a recent AMS Climate Studies Diversity Project participant, it is my objective to offer a new climatology course, which will utilize the AMS Climate Studies Course and include topics such as climate controls, climate classifications and zones, climate change, and people's interaction with the climate. However, this new non-technical introduction to the climates of the earth course, GEO 1233 – Introduction to Climatology at Jones County Junior College, will also be infused with GLOBE protocols in an effort to foster inquiry based instruction and develop active learning while encouraging young people to major in geosciences.

The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program is a worldwide hands-on, school-based science and education program. GLOBE's vision is to promote interaction and support collaboration between students, teachers, and scientists. In addition, GLOBE utilizes an inquiry-based approach for investigations, as students explore environmental problems of local relevance, contribute data to an international scientific database, and design and carry out projects to improve their school and community.

The cornerstone of GLOBE is the collection of research-quality environmental measurements collected by students all over the world. The GLOBE program works in close partnership with NASA, NOAA, and NSF Earth System Science Projects (ESSP's). Moreover, GLOBE students from around the world are able to communicate with each other and discuss diverse and common environmental issues.

Thus, by combining and infusing these two rich science programs in a balanced approach, students in GEO 1233 will be given opportunities to be engaged through multiple learning modalities. The merging of these two science programs provide students with a wealth of knowledge and opportunities. Thus, while using the AMS Students and scientists investigate the atmosphere and Earth as a system through the collection of data using measurement protocols and using instruments that meet certain specifications in order to ensure that data are comparable.

Topic to be discussed: Infusing Through a Balanced Approach: How to align GLOBE investigations with learning objectives/assignments in the AMS Climate Studies Course.