Thomas More College will develop an interdisciplinary, 4 credit hour environmental science course for K-8 preservice teacher candidates that is inquiry-based, team-taught and lab and instruction-integrated. Dr. Jim Swartz, Professor of Chemistry, and Dr. Christopher Lorentz, Assistant Professor of Biology will provide instruction. The course is organized around an aquatic theme; students will engage in science process skills, critical response skills, manipulative skills and communication skills as they explore the structure and function of ecosystems, the impact of humans on the environment, particularly the local one, and appropriate actions to protect and improve it for future generations. It is expected that 15-20 preservice education candidates will enroll in the spring 1999 course.

The proposal includes consultation from experienced faculty at the University of Kentucky and Mr. Mike Howard, Kentucky PRISM Program Evaluator. An advisory planning team for the course will include the College’s science methods instructor, who is also a middle school science instructor, and two public school teachers, one at the elementary level and one from the middle school level.

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