DESC Online Advisory Group Selections and Inaugural Meeting

SCEC Outreach has selected the permanent members of the Development of Earth Science Curricula (DESC) Online Advisory Group. This group will be responsible for guiding the continuing development of the SCEC education modules with the aim of making them useful and available to classrooms nationwide.

The use of this advisory group is the next step in gathering information from key informants-a group of people who have
unique skills or background related to the DESC Online project. One of the group's main tasks will be to guide the development of supporting hands-on activities for use in the classroom.

On December 2, 1998, the final invitees were brought together for a variety of purposes. The group is composed mainly of experi-enced science teachers, representing the ideas and attitudes of the teaching population in southern California, the main target for SCEC Outreach.

This group will promote the value of the DESC Online project, advise throughout DESC Online product development, as well as carrying out specific tasks in that development. The advisory group will be co-chaired by SCEC Outreach Specialist Sara Tekula and Regional Director for the California K-12 Alliance for Math and Science (CAMS) Meridith Osterfeld. (Also see the article by Osterfeld elsewhere in this newsletter.)

The members of the DESC Online Advisory Group are:
Cory Wisnia (middle school/SCORE)
Ray Wiltsey (middle school/SCORE)
Ursula Sexton (San Ramon Unified School District/1998 NSTA Teacher of the Year)
Phil LaFontaine (CAMS)
Steve Mull (Lakeside Farms School)
Cindy Anderson (Mission Meadows School)
Paul Killian (ABC Unified School District)
Mike Sullivan (Dana Hills High School)
Myles Loveall (La Cañada High School Seismology Institute)

The members receive reimbursements for travel and classroom substitutes, honoraria for participation at each SCEC development workshop, a free subscription to the SCEC Quarterly Newsletter, and the opportunity to publish in the newsletter, as well as payment for take-home assignments that they are given to develop add-on pieces for the modules.

According to Tekula, "This unique group brings to the table information concerning causes, reasons, and best approaches from
an 'insider' point of view about the DESC Online Project. Their advice and feedback increases the credibility of our final products. They will also provide SCEC a pipeline to pivotal groups in curriculum development and teacher training."