HICKORY, N.C. — December 7, 2023 marked not only the first Reading Day at Appalachian State University’s Hickory campus, but also the first professional development workshop for K-12 educators hosted at the new location. The workshop, called "Rockin’ NC," was attended by 23 regional elementary school teachers from schools in the Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Iredell-Statesville and Surry school districts. The attendees participated in a variety of geology-related activities, including a virtual geology tour around the state, rock sample identification, mineral testing and Lego rock-building.
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| Left: Marta Toran, lecturer and outreach coordinator in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, bringing the Rockin NC' kits to the App State Hickory Campus. Right: April Smith (left), Content Coach for Iredell-Statesville Schools, and Dr. Debra Lester (right), STEM Coordinator for Iredell-Statesville Schools, show off their Rockin NC' kits. | |
Rockin’ NC is one of several science education programs for teachers developed and facilitated by faculty members from Appalachian's Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences (GES). The popular earth science program, which usually fills up within a few hours of registration opening, is specifically geared towards fourth through sixth grade educators and provides physical materials along with lesson plans to support science education aligned with North Carolina standards.
“The brand new facilities and location of the Hickory campus make it an ideal location to reach more teachers through professional development programs, as it is more convenient for them than traveling up the mountain to Boone after school for a two-hour evening training. We are also grateful to have great partners like Dr. Carol Moore from STEM West to help spread the word about opportunities like this.” — Marta Toran, lecturer and outreach coordinator in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences
Since the Rockin' NC program was piloted in 2019, hundreds of teachers across the state have participated. The workshop and all materials in the classroom kit that participants receive are sponsored by Vulcan Materials Company Foundation. Over the span of several months, GES students help create the classroom kits, which include rock and mineral samples and a variety of teaching aids.
“Vulcan Materials, and in particular Manager of Government and Community Relations Denise Hallett, have been instrumental in growing our outreach programs for years. This is one of the ways in which the broader community benefits from our partnership with them, by enabling us to provide schools with free geologic samples and classroom materials," shared Marta Toran, lecturer and outreach coordinator in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences.
Feedback from participants, most of whom are part of the STEM West community, was overwhelmingly positive, with comments such as:
“Wish this would have been offered earlier in my teaching career, the materials are wonderful!”
“Wonderful workshop with amazing resources that I can immediately start using. Very excited for future learning opportunities.”
“Incredibly useful. I am just starting my career and haven’t had time to obtain materials yet. I was very happy to get this.”
The attendees enjoyed dinner, snacks and drinks provided by Vulcan Materials and STEM West, and each took home a classroom tote containing the materials for all of the lessons modeled.
For more information about Rockin’ NC, visit earth.appstate.edu/outreach/rockin-nc. Upcoming workshops include a program exploring geologic time and fossils, as well as one focused on how to teach about climate change under the new state science education standards using evidence and argumentation.
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About the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences
Located in Western North Carolina, Appalachian State University provides the perfect setting to study geological and environmental sciences. The Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences provides students with a solid foundation on which to prepare for graduate school or build successful careers as scientists, consultants and secondary education teachers. The department offers six degree options in geology and two degree options in environmental science. Learn more at https://earth.appstate.edu.
Written by Marta Toran
Edited by Lauren Gibbs
January 17, 2024
BOONE, N.C.
Rockin NC' kits arrive at the App State Hickory Campus
