Very soon now, GSA will have a special volume on
Learning in the Field. Steve Whitmeyer, Dave Mogk,
and I are co-editors. GSA has the complete volume
in hand now, but we don't have an anticipated
publication date yet.
Regards,
Eric
---- Original message ----
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:38:24 -0600
From: Frank Granshaw <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Fieldwork and the geosciences
To: [log in to unmask]
Hello all...
I am looking for three items of information that I
am hoping some of you may be able to help me with.
The first of these is your favorite quote
regarding the importance of fieldwork in
constructing geoscience knowledge. One that I've
found thus far comes from Rob Butler's "Teaching
Geoscience through Fieldwork"
It is quite possible to acquire a
considerable knowledge of Geology by the
mere intelligent perusal of text-books.
Without having engaged in practical work,
one may even learn to read a geological
map, and come to understand in a general
way the structure of the region it portrays.
Knowledge obtained in this fashion, however,
is necessarily superficial, and can never
supply the place of personal observation or
study in the field.
James Geikie (1912)
While this one does a pretty good job explaining
the importance of fieldwork to geology education,
it misses the mark in terms of the importance of
fieldwork in constructing the body of knowledge.
The other two items I'm looking for are
references regarding the nature and frequency of
fieldwork in K-16 classrooms and in teacher
education in geoscience. Most of what I'm finding
here seems to be for the UK, which is interesting,
but not very useful when talking to folks here in
the states.
Thanks for whatever info you might be able to send
in my direction
Cheers
Frank G.
Frank D. Granshaw
Earth Science Instructor
Portland Community College
Sylvania Campus
Portland, OR
503-977-8236
Eric J. Pyle, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Geology and Environmental Science
James Madison University
MSC 6903
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
540.568.7115
7100A Memorial Hall
"The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it"
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
