Earth System Science Education in the New Millennium: Learning Modules and Peer Review

Within Earth system science, the Earth is viewed as a synergistic interrelated physical system of phenomena and processes embracing many disciplines. Earth system science is now widely regarded to be the valid framework from which to offer interdisciplinary courses concerning the relationship between the Earth and humankind. Faculty and students within colleges and universities are attracted to this holistic approach to study the Earth that has been developed through programs such as the ongoing NASA/USRA Cooperative University-based Program for Earth System Science Education (ESSE). The universities involved in ESSE adopt Earth system science as a theme for both lower and upper level undergraduate course offerings, while a few aim to develop departments or schools of Earth systems. The challenge remains to develop and offer courses that are relevant and intellectually stimulate faculty and students, while still promoting the disciplinary depth necessary to fully characterize and understand the system.

To meet this challenge locally, colleges and universities develop Earth system science educational resources for the classroom and laboratory, teaching about the Earth as a system. These content rich resources range from the simplicity of an annotated set of satellite images through the multi-week topical learning module to the complexity of a complete course, and can be valuable resources for educators everywhere. An organized web-based repository of Earth system science education learning resources is needed, with provision for peer review to ensure quality classroom resources and academic reward for authors and developers.

The ESSE Program maintains a web-based repository of links to Earth system science education and research information. Earth System Science Online (http://www.usra.edu/esse/essonline) organizes interdisciplinary educational materials for easier access by instructors and students aiming to be a resource for ESS educators looking for science links, learning modules, program opportunities, partner contacts, news updates and other information relevant to Earth studies. The biological and social sciences need to be represented in the Earth system, as well as the human dimensions of sustainability and economics. ESS Online offers an eclectic collection of relevant interdisciplinary resources and links focused on the needs of Earth system science educators. ESSE is also proposing to develop the process and structure for a pathfinder electronic peer-reviewed Journal of Earth System Science Education (JESSE). When operational, JESSE will provide a mechanism to peer review and publish electronic resources and learning modules via the Internet, benefiting educators and authors.