Secondary Level II
Teaching units on understanding the earth as a system
Geo-scientific contents are already a component part of lessons in Secondary Level II. Topics like the carbon cycle, plate tectonics, earthquakes, fossils are treated from different perspectives, in geography and biology classes as well as in chemistry and physics ones. The interdisciplinary materials of the "research dialogue: system earth" project , on the other hand, aim at conveying an understanding of the earth as a systemic whole. It is to be made clear that the abiotrophic and the biotrophic processes of system earth are entwined with each other and there is permanent and complex interplay. The units are also to overcome the limitedness of the mono-disciplinary perspectives.
Subject areas and modules
Based on the current status of research in the geo-sciences, teaching units structured as modules are being developed for Secondary Level II. In addition to teaching materials which include subject analyzes, student worksheets, instructions for experiments and tasks, didactical analyzes and background information are being developed. In the introductory units, system earth with its sub-areas is described using phenomena, whereby common structural principles are emphasized. Modules which take into consideration the scientific foundation of the topics system earth/life, cycles, natural phenomena and resources are offered for further lessons. These modules are both suitable for expanding and intensifying the subject-oriented lessons as well as for interdisciplinary courses.
The computer plays an important role in implementing the geo-scientific contents in the lessons. For this reason a CD-ROM is currently being developed for Secondary Level II. It contains animations and simulations for the system earth subsystems and is suitable for interactive work on the teaching materials.
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