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Hello Group,
I will follow suit and let you know about another Geoscience
Education Session at the GSA Fall Meeting. Our session, Teaching and Learning about Complex Earth Systems:
Effective Strategies in Undergraduate Classrooms and Teacher Development
Programs, has just been accepted and will be Topical Session Number
174. The Deadline for Abstracts is June 3rd. We welcome
your participation and look forward to a great meeting in
Outline Description
Pedagogical techniques that facilitate conceptual change and
understanding about complex Earth systems including inquiry-, multiple
representations-, data-, and technology-based methods which have been used to
train teachers or teach students will be discussed.
Rationale
Earth science standards at both the secondary level and in
undergraduate programs reflect increase emphasis on understanding of the earth
as a complex system. The nature of near-surface earth systems may present major
cognitive difficulties to students in their development of authentic, accurate
mental models of earth systems. These cognitive difficulties include
conceptualization of natural earth environments as systems, understanding the
complex characteristics of these systems, and the application of conceptual
models of complex earth systems to support earth and environmental problem solving.
This session welcomes presentations discussing effective techniques to teach
and learn about complex Earth systems. Examples of complex Earth systems
of interest would include interactions between the atmosphere, biosphere,
geosphere, and hydrosphere such as those that take place at the coastal margin,
in soil ecosystems, at the land-atmosphere interface, and/or are part of the
various environmental (e.g., climate change) issues that incorporate
anthropogenic activities. Specifically, the use of techniques that
facilitate conceptual change and understanding including inquiry-based
approaches, multiple representations, data-rich tools, and technology-based
methods which have been used to train teachers or teach students are
appropriate.
Cheers,
Karen
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Karen S. McNeal, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Geosciences
662-325-1114 (Office)
662-325-9423 (Fax)
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