CSI: Climate Status Investigations

CSI: Climate Status Investigations is a national teacher training institute that provides middle and high school level educators with the process, skills and confidence to introduce the topic of global climate change in their classroom using The Keystone Center’s non-biased framework.

Training Highlights

Non-biased Approach: Teachers are introduced to a new way of thinking about their approach to contentious issues. They learn strategies to identify and remove their own bias in order to facilitate student inquiry.

Program Staff: The Keystone Center staff members are former classroom teachers who have been trained in the non-biased pedagogy. The staff is supported by facilitators, past participants, who actively use the framework to investigate global climate change with their students.

Resources: All participants receive a curriculum notebook, lab materials, CD, and an online support mechanism.

Evaluation: Each of the CSI: Climate Status Investigations participants will implement the curriculum in their classrooms and provide feedback through a detailed evaluation. Based upon these suggestions, The Keystone Center staff will continue to enhance the curriculum.

Course Credit: Educators who successfully complete the CSI: Climate Status Investigations training have the option of receiving graduate level credits from Colorado School of Mines at minimal cost.

Networking: Teachers from across the country have the opportunity to share best practices and form lasting professional connections.

The CSI: Climate Status Investigations Framework

Inquiry-based: The curriculum brings the process of inquiry to the study of global climate change. The Keystone Center’s framework provides middle and high school level educators with step-by-step instructions to guide students through investigation of this issue.

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Visit the CSI curriculum

Middle School
October 5-8, 2007

High School
October 26-28, 2007

Components

Science
The curriculum explores the science of global climate change, the primary sources of greenhouse gases, and potential solutions such as sequestration, through hands-on inquiry.

Economics and Society
The curriculum leads students through an exploration of the social factors contributing to greenhouse gas levels and the resulting economic and social impact associated with climate change. Through stakeholder analysis, students understand a variety of viewpoints.

Evaluating Solutions
The curriculum guides students through an evaluation of possible options for addressing climate change: mitigation, prevention, and the role of technology.

Interdisciplinary: The curriculum integrates science, math, social studies and language arts throughout the investigation. Teachers from a variety of disciplines use climate change activities to enhance their curriculum.

Methodologies: The Institute incorporates effective and innovative ideas, activities and methods, including conflict resolution, mediation, role playing, small group work, and lab activities.

Standards-Based: The framework guides educators in a standards-based instructional process. The investigation addresses national standards from multiple disciplines while meeting state and district guidelines.

Easily Transferable: Global climate change is an issue with universal applicability. Because of its appeal, participants can implement the curriculum as a whole lesson plan or as individual activities.

Implementation: Teachers that are accepted to the Institute commit to implementing the module with their students for at least three years.

CSI: Climate Status Investigations 2007 will take place October 5-8, 2007 (Middle School) and October 26-28, 2007 (High School) in Keystone, Colorado.

For specific information on this training, please contact Ellen Reid at 970-513-5828 or ereid@keystone.org

For general information on our Professional Education & Leadership Programs contact Ellen Reid at 1-800-842-7485 (ext. 5828).