Both Education Modules in the Beta-Release Stage

SCEC Outreach recently announced the release of both education modules (regional seismicity and GPS) in "beta" version. They are available through links from the SCEC Webservice; however, they are recommended solely for "trial runs" in the classroom.

Experienced teachers who are willing to try something new and give feedback to the authors and the DESC Online Advisory Group (see related news brief) are encouraged to test them in their classrooms.

Both modules are aimed at advanced high school and under-graduate college students and are excellent sources of in-depth information about measuring earthquakes over space and time.

When complete, the modules will find their home at the DESC Online Web site (currently under construction)-to be called "The Earth Is Constantly Changing." The site will be hosted by and linked to the SCEC Webservice. The site will serve as a resource and curriculum hub for every earth science classroom, as well as an excellent source of information for any member of the public.

The module "Investigating Earthquakes through Regional Seismicity," under the supervision of Katrin Hafner and the authorship of John Marquis (both of Caltech), is a three-part module with sections titled "What Is an Earthquake?"; "The Distribution of Earthquakes"; and "Measuring Earthquakes."

There is a "Concepts Covered" page, which is an outline of the built-in science storyline coupled with activities, as well as a useful table of contents that lists all the main questions addressed in each section and the activities that correspond to them.

In summing up his experience, Marquis said, "In addition to increasing my technical skills as a Web developer, working on the educational module has helped me better understand the special challenges faced by educators-and specifically, earth science educators. The interaction with educators has been invaluable, and for me, the aspect of this project that makes it special."

"Exploring the Use of Space Technology in Earthquake Studies" is a module that teaches the basic concepts of earthquake science and the Global Positioning System and highlights the Southern California Integrated GPS Network's contributions to measuring ground motion in southern California.

Under the direction of Andrea Donnellan and designed by Maggi Glasscoe, a former SCEC undergraduate intern, the module is divided into sections addressing plate tectonics, earthquakes, GPS, space technology at work, activities, people in SCIGN, and a glossary. The activities section is particularly inventive, address-ing questions such as "How Many Earthquakes Does It Take to Make a Mountain?" and "How Long Will It Take for San Fran-cisco and Los Angeles to Meet?"

Maggi Glasscoe, module designer and primary author, described the people she has worked with on the module and those whom she has encountered at meetings and module demonstrations as having been universally excited and supportive. She says that it has "made the effort very exciting and worthwhile."

She expanded on this by saying, "Developing these materials has really helped me to get a better understanding of the science I am involved in, and it is one of the greatest things to see other people get excited about it, too, when they use the module. I've learned a lot about expressing concepts in earth sciences in a manner that is both understandable and relevant to everyone, not only those involved in the science." She hopes the materials make an impact on the lives of students, teachers, and just about anyone interested in how and why we study earthquakes.

The DESC Online Advisory Group has made sure that the modules address the key issues in the National Science Education Standards, as well as the standards set by the California Department of Education. During this beta-testing stage, the module authors will meet with the advisory group quarterly, as well as integrate feedback from users' comment forms. Outreach Special-ist Sara Tekula added, "We encourage anyone interested to visit both sites and offer feedback." "Investigating Earthquakes through Regional Seismicity" is on the Web at this URL:

HTTP://WWW.SCECDC.SCEC.ORG/MODULE/MODULE.HTML

"Exploring the Use of Space Technology in Earthquake Studies" is at:

HTTP://SCIGN.JPL.NASA.GOV/LEARN.