Thanks to a generous AAPG Foundation grant, 52 middle- and high school educators from 14 school districts – predominantly in the Houston region – participated in the 2017 AAPG Convention and Exhibition (ACE) Earth Science Educator Program in celebration of AAPG’s 100th anniversary.
The Educator Program was designed by a committee of educators – including two AAPG Foundation Teachers of the Year – and industry professionals to have a focus on educators rather than students.
The attendees – educators from private, magnet and public school systems – participated in activities aligned with the ACE theme, “100 years of Science Fueling 100 Years of Prosperity,” and with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills in science.
These activities crossed four days and included two field trips – one titled “Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) of the Hockley Fault, Northwest Houston,” and another to study the “Morphology and Sedimentary of Panther Creek, Montgomery County Preserve.”
A full-day symposium with concurrent 90-minute sessions concentrated on technical content the educators could integrate into their curriculum.
Additional activities included participation in the ACE opening reception; a technology demonstration at a local petroleum company; a mentor program that paired industry professionals with educators; and attendance of ACE.
Organizers applauded how the initiative underscored the educators’ connection with AAPG, and maximized their interaction with convention attendees through various activities with geoscience professionals.
The program also provided continuing education and gifted and talented credits.
The result: It is estimated that over the next decade, participating educators will bring information about the geosciences and the petroleum industry to approximately 80,000 students.
The program was designed as a model that can be adapted for future years.
Grants for programs like these would not be possible without the generous gifts given by AAPG members – an outpouring that AAPG Foundation leaders praised and thanked.
Click here for a recap of the program’s progress was presented to the AAPG Foundation by Stephanie Shipp.