To increase understanding of complex concepts related to groundwater:
To facilitate students’ ability to conceptualize the groundwater environment, use the following instructional tools: rock specimens, three-dimensional physical models, and fieldwork. Continue reading →
To facilitate students’ ability to conceptualize the groundwater environment, measure understandings of the concepts using: drawings, concept maps, and open-ended questions. Continue reading →
To facilitate students’ ability to conceptualize the groundwater environment, engage teachers in learning how to develop appropriate assessment materials. For example, model use of preassessment to assess students’ groundwater understandings using various types of multiplechoice items, open-ended questions, and drawing prompts. Ask teachers to analyze what types of information each item provides and construct an appropriateinstructional plan based on the responses. Continue reading →
To facilitate students’ ability to conceptualize the groundwater environment, teach instructors the fundamentals of assessing for conceptual understanding of science concepts. For example, the teacher can identify what language the students are using to describe groundwater and consequently what possible alternative conceptions may need to be explicitly addressed. Continue reading →
Design communication and professional development opportunities for outreach educators that will motivate them to implement a priority program because:
Support watershed planning groups with assistance from agencies. Continue reading →
Drinking water education for citizens and the private sector can build capacity for implementing groundwater protection by increasing individual knowledge and skills for protecting groundwater, and assessing the credibility of policy and financial initiatives.
Drinking water education for managers and government officials should address proper management in 5 risk categories: technical, financial, institutional, political, and social. These include: appropriate hydrogeological analyses required for local groundwater protection planning; allocation of adequate resources for groundwater protection; the quality of laws, regulations, policies, plans, and organizational structure that governs groundwater protection; leadership that can provide vision, direction, and partnerships with other communities; and the quantity and quality of citizen particiation in groundwater protection initiatives.
Education to protect drinking water quality should focus, at least in part, on water utility managers and local government officials responsible for ensuring reliable and safe drinking water.
