As a community, we can work together to improve teaching and learning in the atmospheric sciences by incorporating research-proven strategies inside and outside of the classroom. Atmospheric Science Education Research (ASER) might examine teaching and learning in a formal classroom or training facility, but it might also be investigations into informal learning that occurs in museums or during outreach activities.
Community Goals
- Bringing awareness to opportunities and existing literature related to atmospheric science education.
- Encouraging partnerships between atmospheric science educators and those with expertise in education research.
- Working together to develop and investigate research questions of high priority to the community and to disseminate this research through conference presentations and discipline specific journals.
Why ASER?
The motivation for developing a robust ASER community is to improve teaching and learning in atmospheric sciences through the use of evidence-based teaching and learning practices. Improving atmospheric science education through research aides in preparing scientifically literate citizens and is vital to training the next generation of atmospheric scientists.
ASER History
The call for improving atmospheric science education through the scholarship of teaching and learning was first made in 2008 (Charlevoix 2008). In the summer of 2016, a working group of atmospheric science educators and education researchers convened to share ideas for the creation of a discipline-based education research (DBER) community in atmospheric science. The Atmospheric Science Education Research: A Beginner’s Guide short course was held at the AMS Annual Meeting in 2018 and offered the community a chance to meet and discuss the elements of education research design, methods for gathering evidence of learning, and to develop education research questions of high priority to the atmospheric science community. This was the first step in formalizing an education research community in atmospheric science, and the community continues to grow today.