About Us

exampleSeismogram

Texas Educational Seismic Project (TX-ESP) is a recognized 501c3 public charity.  TX-ESP promotes inquiry-based learning and investigative methods in earth sciences for K-12 classrooms.  The program is intended to help students learn to reframe traditional science lessons into a dialogue of scientific inquiries with open-ended, boundless investigations about the world around us.  For more than ten years, earth sciences were not included in Texas State curriculum requirements.  During this absence, the number of content experts teaching earth science was drastically reduced.  Further, current science teachers are facing the challenge of implementing the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) which focuses on the integration of science, technology and engineering and pushes students to investigate the natural world through the practices of scientific inquiry.  TX-ESP enhances Texas classrooms using seismology as one tool to promote inquiry based learning and accomplish Texas state testing requirements for the earth sciences.  TX-ESP’s implementation can also assist the school become an active partner in global seismology research with Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS)


OUR VISION

Texas Educational Seismic Project (TX-ESP) promotes inquiry-based learning and investigative methods in earth sciences for K-12 classrooms. The curriculum and discussion materials may also be adapted for colleges, libraries and other educational centers.


OUR MISSION

TX-ESP augments Texas teacher’s 5E lesson plans with inquiry-based learning methods. TX-ESP’s goal is to expand linear problem solving skills of the K-12 student towards an enhanced creative analysis and assessment skillset. TX-ESP uses seismology as a stimulating teaching tool to accomplish this goal. The program aligns with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) science requirements thru teaching students about seismology and seismic waves, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building. Finally, the curriculum and activities intend to help students learn to reframe traditional science lessons into a dialogues of scientific inquiry.

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