Faculty Accounts of Teaching Geoscientific Thinking

Geoscience methods applied to real-world problems
Kathleen Harper, The University of Montana
This webpage is an educational essay discussing how geoscience methods—such as observation, measurement, and modeling—are applied to real-world problems like natural hazards, resource management, and environmental issues, with regional and global case studies to enhance science education. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

The child as history: recapitulation goes to school
Kip Ault, Lewis & Clark College
An academic essay page analyzing the historical influence of recapitulation theory and Herbartian philosophy on child-centered education, emphasizing evolutionary analogies in developmental pedagogy, the role of G. Stanley Hall and John Dewey, and connections to modern science teaching methods in geoscience education. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

Teaching the methods of geoscience in a mineralogy class
Dave Mogk, Montana State University
A pedagogical essay page detailing how mineralogy instruction can scaffold geoscience methods—integrating historical scientific development, theoretical reasoning, analytical techniques, and societal relevance—to cultivate students' scientific habits of mind and professional preparation in geoscience education. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

Why do we teach geoscience to non-majors?
Kaatje van der Hoeven Kraft, Whatcom Community College
An essay page from the InTeGrate project discussing the rationale for teaching geoscience to non-majors, emphasizing scientific literacy, the process of geoscience, modeling, and the role of introductory courses in fostering informed citizens through explicit instruction and experiential learning. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

Differences in the methodology and justification of the field sciences and the classical experimental sciences
Carol Cleland, University of Colorado Boulder
Philosophical analysis comparing the distinct methodologies of historical field sciences and classical experimental sciences, emphasizing how time asymmetry in causation shapes their evidential reasoning, with field sciences relying on trace-based "smoking gun" detection for past events while experimental sciences focus on controlled prediction. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

My metaphoric earth science life story
Catherine Lange, SUNY Buffalo State University
Personal essay page detailing a geoscience educator's career journey using geological metaphors, covering urban teaching challenges, overcoming science phobia, pedagogical development, and returning to academia to train future teachers, emphasizing growth through pressure and transformation. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

Educating pre-service teachers in geoscience methods
Kandi Wojtysiak, Rio Salado College
This webpage is an educational essay discussing the challenges and strategies in training pre-service teachers to effectively teach geoscience through inquiry-based, hands-on methods, emphasizing curriculum design, STEM integration, and the importance of dynamic, relevant science instruction within teacher education programs. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

Introducing the methods of geoscience to physical geology students
Beth Dushman, Howard Community College
A geoscience education essay page detailing strategies for teaching non-majors and majors in physical geology through critical reasoning, scientific method application, observational labs, communication exercises, and media literacy, with an emphasis on plate tectonics, natural hazards, and ongoing geological research. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

The development of my understanding of the methods of earth science
Jeffrey D. Thomas, Central Connecticut State University
Personal essay detailing an earth science educator's pedagogical evolution from traditional lecture-based instruction to embracing diverse inquiry methods, including systems thinking and data-driven investigations, to teach geoscience concepts effectively. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

It's scary to feel uncertain
Kim Hannula, Fort Lewis College
This educational essay page discusses teaching uncertainty in geoscience education, emphasizing how students at all levels often display unwarranted certainty in interpreting data, and advocates for fostering scientific habits of mind that embrace uncertainty, critical self-reflection, and modeling assumptions in structural geology instruction. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.