The Ellison Miles Geotechnology Institute is reaping the benefits from efforts of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation. The Foundation assisted in the initial funding of the EMGI and has a long relationship with the institute. John Bookout, former chairman of Shell Oil and foundation member, has offered support totaling $150,000 over a three-year period to offer low-cost teacher training programs at the institute.
The “Bookout Initiative,” as this support is being termed, is focused on teacher training in science through the EMGI. Discussions with Diane Brownlee, director of the EMGI, and Stan Pittman, EMGI part-time staff member, had several discussions with foundation members constructing a series of low-cost earth science education courses for K-12 teachers, with EMGI providing facilities, teaching materials and staff for nominal costs.
These courses have several benefits for teachers. The short courses are scheduled at the teacher’s convenience, on weekends and school holidays. The courses taught by EMGI provide credit hours needed for the teachers’ annual certification requirements. The teaching materials are selected from the best currently available, and organization and supervision are being provided by the EGMI staff.
The program got off to a jump-start in October 2007, and has provided funding for training more than 200 teachers, with an amazingly low cost to the teachers and the initiative. The program has been heavily advertised in the teaching profession, and requests have already been received for 14 more short courses for the first quarter of 2008! Teachers are excited about using new knowledge and teaching materials in their classes.
The “Bookout Initiative” also funded a special field trip, Geology on the Bus, in January that received rave reviews from all 35 teachers.
