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On June 5th and 6th, the San Diego Science Project in partnership with Scripps Oceanography and Birch Aquarium at UC San Diego hosted the first of two Climate Champions Design Summits for the summer.
To read more about these biannual summits, please read the blog post from one of earlier events. These summits are organized to support K12 science teachers with learning how to leverage the Understanding Global Change (UGC) framework for supporting Earth Systems thinking and modeling global change-based phenomena. In particular, the Climate Champions Design Summits focus on climate-based phenomena and data sets from SoCal Heat Hub researchers at Scripps Oceanography that can be explored by students using the modeling kits and practices from UGC.
Check out the video below to see UGC modeling in action by students at Jefferson Elementary School. You can hear students revising their thinking as they work to create a model that explains with evidence how greenhouse gases warm our planet.
One of the essential lessons that comes from planning and running these summits is the strategy of co-design. Co-design allows researchers, teacher leaders, and facilitators to all work together to plan and implement a professional learning plan that takes into consideration the various needs and resources for participating teachers. One of the practices that helped plan the summit was drawing a profile of a teacher and describing their most pressing needs. From the responses in such a profile, the planning team was able to generate the necessary supports for participating teachers.
This co-design approach ensured that the summit addressed real-world challenges faced by educators in teaching climate science. By considering teachers' specific needs, time constraints, and available resources, the planning team could tailor the professional learning experience to maximize its relevance and applicability in diverse classroom settings. Furthermore, this collaborative planning process fostered a sense of ownership among participants, increasing their commitment to implementing new strategies and content in their classrooms. The co-design model also allowed for the integration of local climate issues and data, making the learning experience more meaningful and actionable for San Diego area educators.
By the end of the June summit, educators created an implementation plan for UGC in their classrooms and gained access to curricular resources and materials. As a result, San Diego County students will gain valuable access to climate education resources and have a chance to work towards meaningful solutions in their communities.
Join us for more exciting events coming up:
August 5-6, 2024: Climate Champions Design Summit
September 17, 2024: Understanding Global Change Train the Trainer Workshop (1-day in-person workshop) with Jessica Bean
September 24, 2024: Understanding Global Change Train the Trainer Workshop (1-day virtual workshop) with Jessica Bean