Using Internet Resources to Enhance Learning about Global Climate Change

Our physics course for prospective teachers includes learning about global climate change. (See Unit 4 in our open-source textbook, Exploring Physical Phenomena: What Happens When Light from the Sun Shines on the Earth? \underline {https://open.oregonstate.education/physicsforteachers}). Questions addressed include what is the nature of light from the Sun? what is the greenhouse effect? what is the evidence for increasing global temperatures? what is the impact of increasing global temperatures on sea levels? how are individuals, communities, states, national agencies, and international organizations addressing climate change issues? and how make connections to educational policies such as the Next Generation Science Standards? \quad In addition to explorations and discussions in class, we have enhanced students' experiences with Internet resources from a wide variety of sources. These include cell phone apps, computer simulations, national agencies' websites such as NASA's Vital Signs of the Planet, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports, and primary sources such as publications by Newton and Herschel in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London.~These resources also may be useful in general science courses and outreach activities.