UPDATES about EOS-SEI are on our News Page.

Description and general project goal

The EOS Science Education Initiative (EOS-SEI) is a Departmental initiative carried out under the auspices of UBC's Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative ( CWSEI ). Our aim is to increase the effectiveness of post-secondary science education for all undergraduate students taking courses offered by our Department.   Proven pedagogic strategies will be incorporated into our courses, faculty will increase their understanding about learning and their expertise at teaching, and all changes & innovations will become a permanent part of the department's commitment to excellence in teaching. Work at EOS is being carried out under the guidance of the CWSEI.

Long term project plan: This is an outline (January 2009) of plans for this 5 year project. It is constantly evolving.

Please contact any of the EOS Science Teaching and Learning Fellows for information or help with your teaching in our Department:
<fjones@eos.ubc.ca>  <bgilley@eos.ubc.ca>  <elane@eos.ubc.ca>  <jcaulkins@eos.ubc.ca>   604-822-2138.

Related UBC initatives:

• Details from the CWSEI annual summary of progress can be see at the CWSEI website.
• The UBC LEAD Initiative: "LEAD’s goal is a transformative advance in educational effectiveness." see http://www.lead.ubc.ca
• A conversation with Steven Toope, John Kotter and Carl Wieman: watch video of this June 25th 2009 public discussion about the vital need for transformative improvement in university education

From the proposal of Dec 1, 2006, goals were summarized in two parts as follows. (PDF of the proposal.)

1) To promote student achievement of the following learning outcomes:

• Develop skills for making reasoned judgments based on scientific evidence and organized knowledge.
• Enhance the ability to transfer knowledge, skills and concepts to new situations or contexts, for professional, academic, or general societal purposes.
• Develop the ability to assess and remedy one's own understanding.
• Achieve an appropriate balance between breadth and depth of knowledge, in order to recognize and express linkages among systems and concepts.
• Explore the interacting frameworks of economic development and environmental stewardship in the richly multi-disciplinary context of earth, ocean, and atmospheric sciences
  

2) As a department, we will expand and coordinate our efforts in the following areas:

• Increase teaching effectiveness and efficiency in our undergraduate courses and programs.
• Raise university-wide levels of scientific literacy and global awareness.
• Emphasize contemporary thought and new directions in science and science education.
• Enable, facilitate, and support faculty and TAs to follow best practices for achieving departmental teaching and learning goals while retaining ownership of their courses.