A collaborative of seven institutes of higher education and two non-profit organizations developed and implemented five earth science courses totaling eighteen credits that enabled secondary teachers to acquire an add-on earth science endorsement: Geology 1: Physical Geology (4), Geology II: Geology of Virginia (4), Oceanography (4), Astronomy (Space Science for Teachers) (3), and Meteorology (3). These courses were collaboratively developed and included rigorous academic content, research-based instructional strategies, and intense field experiences. The thirty-three sections offered statewide served 499 participants. Three courses were offered to strengthen the skills of earth science teachers: Teaching Eath Science Topics to Special Education Students (3), Integrating New Technologies in the Earth Sciences (3). and GeoVirginia: Creating Virtual Field Trips (non-college credit). In these six sections, seventy-four people participated. Outcomes included an increased pool of endorsed earth science teachers and teachers with coursework in the earth sciences, a website with virtual field trips, and a statewide network. Partners included the College of William & Mary and its Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences, George Mason University, James Madison University, Longwood University, the MathScience Innovation Center (formerly the Mathematics & Science Center), Radford University. Science Museum of Virginia, University of Virginia Southwest Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, and eighty-three school divisions
