Theme: Student Learning

The programming listed below seeks to address the topic of Student Learning.

Developing (or Modifying) an Introductory Geoscience Course Using InTeGrate Modules WORKSHOP
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 8:30am-11:30am Student Union: Ballroom C

David McConnell, North Carolina State University

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Research in STEM disciplines has revealed a suite of empirically validated instructional practices that can contribute to improvements in student learning and a reduction in attrition. This workshop will introduce ...
Connecting Science to Issues of Sustainability and Environmental Justice WORKSHOP
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 8:30am-11:30am Student Union: Acoma A and B

Joshua Villalobos, El Paso Community College

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As natural resources become more scarce, an increasing percentage of the world's underprivileged population is facing issues of inequality and abuse in the distribution, and use, of these commodities. This ...
Preparing for an Academic Career WORKSHOP
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 8:30am-11:30am Northrop Hall: 116

Lynsey LeMay, Virginia Peninsula Community College
Sue Ebanks, Savannah State University
Catherine Riihimaki, 2NDNATURE Software Inc.
Gary Weissmann, University of New Mexico-Main Campus

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This workshop is designed specifically for graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and others who are interested in pursuing academic careers in the geosciences. Workshop leaders will provide guidance and ...
Using Recreational Drones for STEM Explorations WORKSHOP
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 8:30am-11:30am Johnson Center Recreational Services-Gym South

Shelley Olds, EarthScope Consortium
LuAnn Dahlman, NOAA
Margaret Mooney, University of Wisconsin-Madison

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This workshop is designed for educators, after-school club leaders, science-fair mentors, and others who want to facilitate STEM-curious youth using recreational drones as a platform for learning. The first 20 ...
PaleoCon: An authentic undergraduate research experience exploring climate change and human-driven extinctions in a large gen-ed geoscience course ORAL SESSION
Monday 1:30pm Northrop Hall: 116

Alison Olcott Marshall, University of Kansas Main Campus

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At the University of Kansas, all undergraduate students are required to take a natural science course regardless of their major. Given that this class is often the only college-level science class a student will ...
Broadening Participation of Minorities in the Geoscience Workforce in the Absence of a Geoscience Department ORAL SESSION
Monday 1:30pm Northrop Hall: 340

Janet Liou-Mark, CUNY New York City College of Technology
Reggie Blake, CUNY New York City College of Technology
Hamidreza Norouzi, CUNY New York City College of Technology
Viviana Vladutescu, CUNY City College
Laura Yuen-Lau, CUNY New York City College of Technology

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Although the shortfall in the geoscience workforce through 2024 has been reduced from 135,00 to about 90,000, and although there has been increasing enrollment and graduation trends from geoscience programs ...
Water in Society: Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Teaching and Learning about Water ORAL SESSION
Monday 1:45pm Northrop Hall: 116

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Societies today face an array of water-related challenges within the Food-Energy-Water-Nexus (FEW-Nexus). To prepare students to become tomorrow's global citizens, postsecondary learning experiences must ...
Effectiveness of incorporating active-learning techniques into a large introductory geology class ORAL SESSION
Monday 2:00pm Northrop Hall: 116

Hannah Aird, California State University-Chico
Rachel Teasdale, California State University-Chico

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The CSU, Chico introductory geology general education class (GEOS 101) was redesigned in fall 2016 to infuse active learning into all class periods of two sections of 65 and 140 students. The redesign included use ...
EarthConnections ORAL SESSION
Monday 2:15pm Northrop Hall: 340

Cathy Manduca, Carleton College
Donna Charlevoix, EarthScope Consortium
Barbara Nagle, University of California-Berkeley
Rajul Pandya, AGU
John Taber, EarthScope Consortium
Felicia Davis, HBCU Green Fund Inc.
Sally McGill, California State University-San Bernardino
Mark Benthien, University of Southern California
Kathy Ellins, The University of Texas at Austin
Norma Neely, The University of Texas at Austin
Garry Harris, ECO District Hampton Roads

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To develop a diverse geoscience workforce, the EarthConnections collective impact alliance is developing regionally focused, Earth education pathways. These pathways support and guide students from engagement in ...
Enhancing the Geoscience Pedagogical Landscape: An Integrative Strategic Approach to Heighten Student Learning ORAL SESSION
Monday 2:45pm Northrop Hall: 116

Melanie Will-Cole, Central New Mexico Community College

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The fundamental goal of college-level science educators is to enhance student learning while at the same time develop & foster the learner's skills in critical thinking, inquiry and creativity. Considering ...
How Does Group Inquiry Work with an Authentic Scientific Instrument Alter Climate Science Learning ORAL SESSION
Monday 3:00pm Northrop Hall: 116

Drew Bush, McGill University
Renee Sieber, McGill University
Gale Seiler, Iowa State University
Mark Chandler, Auburn University Main Campus

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Myriad science education technologies have been developed to allow students to visualize, model or interact with otherwise abstract, global Earth system processes. Still others have utilized digital ...
An Integrate Modules Derived Geoscience Course: A Working Model Review ORAL SESSION
Monday 3:30pm Northrop Hall: 116

Rob Rohrbaugh, El Paso Community College

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The vast selection of material available with current Integrate learning modules provides an opportunity to evolve select courses into an applied and/or site-based learning format with ready-to-use materials. This ...
A Multiphase Approach to Overwhelmed Students ORAL SESSION
Monday 3:30pm Northrop Hall: 340

Kyle Fredrick, Pennsylvania Western University - California
Daniel Harris, Pennsylvania Western University - California
Billie Arnold, Pennsylvania Western University - California

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California University of Pennsylvania has an active geology program boasting successful graduates that have become consistently positive representatives of the University and region. Despite these successes, ...
Fractional Crystallization of an M&M Magma Chamber Modified for Large Courses TEACHING DEMONSTRATION
Tuesday 1:30pm-1:50pm Northrop Hall: 340

Euan Mitchell, Miami University-Oxford

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This activity is a modification of the existing SERC activity "Using an M&M® Magma Chamber to Illustrate Magmatic Differentiation." The modification makes the activity more suitable for use in large ...
Using the IPCC Reports in Teaching and Outreach ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION
Tuesday 1:30pm-2:45pm Student Union: Trailblazer/Spirit

Robin Matthews, IPCC WGI Technical Support Unit

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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assesses the current state of scientific understanding on aspects of contemporary climate change. Their assessments span the physical science of climate change, ...
Service Learning ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION
Tuesday 1:30pm-2:45pm Student Union: Thunderbird

Sue Ebanks, Savannah State University

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In this round table discussion, we will exchange ideas for ways in which students can learn how to take action in their surrounding communities, including their campus, as it relates to the environmentally relevant ...
Leveling the Playing Field by Developing Student Metacognition ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION
Tuesday 1:30pm-2:45pm Student Union: Santa Ana A and B

Kaatje van der Hoeven Kraft, Whatcom Community College

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Metacognition is the ability to think about ones thinking, as part of a large context of self-regulation of learning. Students who demonstrate the ability to be metacognitive are more likely to be successful at any ...
Embark on a 360-Degree Geologic Expedition TEACHING DEMONSTRATION
Tuesday 1:50pm-2:10pm Northrop Hall: 116

Ryan Hollister, Modesto Junior College

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"Sometimes getting to a place to observe geologic evidence is tough" (Ira Flatow - Dec 2016). To solve that problem I've built a virtual field trip that combines interactive high-resolution ...
Silicate Mineral Structures and Viscosity TEACHING DEMONSTRATION
Tuesday 1:50pm-2:10pm Northrop Hall: 340

Karin Barovich, University of Adelaide

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First year science students in introductory geology struggle with the concept of silicate structures, tetrahedral bonding, Si:O ratios and also later the concept of magma polymerisation and viscosity. This activity ...
Using the "Flyover Country" App to Design Self-guided Field Trips TEACHING DEMONSTRATION
Tuesday 2:10pm-2:30pm Northrop Hall: 116

Avery Shinneman, University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Amy Myrbo, Science Museum of MN
Shane Loeffler, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

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Field experiences are an integral and attractive part of an education in the geosciences, and considered formative by many students. However, at many institutions class sizes, transportation, and other barriers ...
Library Research Lab: Does the Ozone Hole cause Global Warming? TEACHING DEMONSTRATION
Tuesday 2:10pm-2:30pm Northrop Hall: 340

Carsten Braun, Westfield State University

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In this activity students get to investigate a specific question (Does the Ozone Hole cause Global Warming?) and formalize their investigation as a briefing paper for the President of the United States. This ...
Remote SEM Operation for in Class Observation and Identification of Mineral Specimens TEACHING DEMONSTRATION
Tuesday 2:40pm-3:00pm Northrop Hall: 116

Christopher Vidito, Florida International University
Jeffrey Ryan, University of South Florida
Mary Beck, Valencia Community College

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Sunrise, Sunset: Using Personal Observations to Understand Changing Sun Patterns from an Earth Perspective TEACHING DEMONSTRATION
Tuesday 2:40pm-3:00pm Northrop Hall: 340

Peggy McNeal, Towson University

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When students learn about Earth-Sun relationships from models of the solar system, they discover that Earth's axial tilt is the cause of variable sun angle and the seasons. However, they experience this using ...
How can we use rock characteristics to interpret rock origin? TEACHING DEMONSTRATION
Tuesday 3:00pm-3:20pm Northrop Hall: 340

Robyn Dahl, Western Washington University

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Students employ the jigsaw method to characterize four rock types (A=sedimentary, B=metamorphic, C=igneous extrusive, and D=igneous intrusive), infer formation processes and determine how they are related via the ...
Evaluating Sands using Remotely-Operated Scanning Electron Microscope TEACHING DEMONSTRATION
Tuesday 3:00pm-3:20pm Northrop Hall: 116

Mary Beck, Valencia Community College
Christopher Vidito, Florida International University

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In this session, we will demonstrate how students can, in the classroom, use a remotely-accessed scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electron dispersion spectrometer (EDS) for course-based undergraduate ...
Building Community in your Online Course: Strategies for getting students to work together ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION
Tuesday 3:00pm-4:15pm Student Union: Santa Ana A and B

Hannah Scherer, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ

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Facilitating peer learning and building community in online courses represents a fundamental component of student engagement and success in online learning. In this roundtable discussion, we will share examples of ...
Fire Weather Forecasting: Practicum TEACHING DEMONSTRATION
Tuesday 3:20pm-3:40pm Northrop Hall: 340

Cody Kirkpatrick, Indiana University-Bloomington

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I will show attendees the Just-in-Time activity that students complete before coming to class; then, we will demonstrate the jigsaw activity itself, working in teams and switching to join other teams; and finally ...
Transforming Earth Education - A Look Backward and Forward PLENARY TALK
Tuesday 4:30pm-5:45pm Student Union: Ballroom C

Cathy Manduca, Carleton College

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It has been 20 years since the publication of Shaping the Future of Undergraduate Earth Science Education, calling for an integrated approach to learning about the Earth system aimed at creating a scientifically ...
Inclusion in the Geosciences-Instructional Approaches to Access and Accommodation AFTERNOON MINI WORKSHOP
Wednesday 1:30pm-4:00pm Student Union: Santa Ana A and B

Wendi J. W. Williams, South Texas College
Gretchen Miller, Wake Technical Community College

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A professional development opportunity for current and future K- Higher Education geoscience faculty on behalf of the International Association for Geoscience Diversity (http://www.theIAGD.org). Need strategies and ...
The Weather-Ready Student: Bringing Meteorology into your Course AFTERNOON MINI WORKSHOP
Wednesday 1:30pm-4:00pm Student Union: Mirage/Thunderbird

Cindy Shellito, University of Northern Colorado

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Are your students weather-ready? This workshop is aimed at educators across a range of disciplines, from those who teach courses in meteorology, to those who simply wish to prepare their students for fieldwork with ...
Citizen Science along the Rio Grande: K-12 science, education, and stewardship AFTERNOON MINI WORKSHOP
Wednesday 1:30pm-4:00pm Student Union: Trailblazer/Spirit

Kelly Steinberg, Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program

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Participants will gather at 12:50 p.m. for transportation off-site. Meet at the loading zone in front of the parking garage near the Student Union; there will be two small yellow school buses - see map (Acrobat ...
Enriching the Geoscience Community through Micro-Mentoring Practices AFTERNOON MINI WORKSHOP
Wednesday 1:30pm-4:00pm Student Union: Acoma A and B

Kelsey Bitting, Elon University

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Personal relationships with faculty mentors who encourage students to pursue their goals have a major impact on undergraduates, in outcomes ranging from academic success to general well-being after graduation. ...
Geocaching as a tool for experiential learning and self-guided adventures in large geology courses ORAL SESSION
Wednesday 1:45pm Northrop Hall: 116

Kelly Lazar, Clemson University
Stephen Moysey, East Carolina University
John Wagner, Clemson University
Alan B. Coulson, Clemson University
scott brame, Clemson University

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It is uncommon for large service geology courses to provide engaging outdoor experiences that effectively mimic the experiences of working geologists, a critical component of recruiting students to geology. To ...
The Wicked Problem of Food Security: Modules that Promote Interdisciplinary and Systems Thinking Using AGO ORAL SESSION
Wednesday 2:00pm Northrop Hall: 116

Amy Potter, Armstrong State University
Rebecca Boger, Brooklyn College, CUNY
Russanne Low, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies

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Over the next several decades, food security will continue to be one of the most pressing issues facing our planet. With this in mind, three professors from different disciplinary backgrounds, cultural geography, ...
Comparing Social Comparisons in Geoscience Courses ORAL SESSION
Wednesday 2:00pm Northrop Hall: 340

Caitlin Callahan, Grand Valley State University
Andrew R. Sparks, Grand Valley State University

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Students commonly compare their performance on an assignment or in a class to that of their peers. Our goal in this descriptive pilot study is to explore how this tendency towards making comparisons—defined as ...
Education in the Food-Energy-Water-Nexus: A Transdisciplinary Community ORAL SESSION
Wednesday 2:15pm Northrop Hall: 116

Cory Forbes, The University of Texas at Arlington
Hannah Scherer, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ

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Institutions of higher education must take a leading role in preparing all global citizens for the food, energy, and water (FEW) challenges of today and tomorrow. The Food-Energy-Water Nexus concept has emerged as ...
Lab-like Learning in Lecture – Video Snips and Tutorials for Active Learning Exercises ORAL SESSION
Wednesday 2:45pm Northrop Hall: 116

Scott Brande, University of Alabama at Birmingham

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Lecture and laboratory classes are commonly understood as serving different purposes and delivering different student experiences. For example, lectures in introductory science courses typically focus on student ...
Using Research Instrumentation as a Teaching Tool in Geosciences Through Remote and On-site Operation ORAL SESSION
Wednesday 3:00pm Northrop Hall: 116

Christopher Vidito, Florida International University
Jeffrey Ryan, University of South Florida
Rosemary Hickey-Vargas, Florida International University
Dr. James MacDonald, Florida Gulf Coast University
Mary Beck, Valencia Community College
Dr. Sven Holbik, Valencia Community College

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Remotely operated research instrumentation as a pedagogical tool in geosciences is the focus of this study. The goals of this intervention are to engage students in scientific inquiry and to further their ...
Writing in Geology to Reduce Math Anxiety ORAL SESSION
Wednesday 3:15pm Northrop Hall: 116

Victor Ricchezza, Georgia State University
Len Vacher, University of South Florida

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Students in GLY 4866: Computational Geology at the University of South Florida learn to solve mathematical problems in a geologic context. Quantitative literacy – a fundamental set of skills and habits of mind ...
COPUS findings may help explain low diversity in geoscience majors ORAL SESSION
Wednesday 3:15pm Northrop Hall: 340

Jennifer Engels, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Daniela Bottjer-Wilson, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Kathleen Kane, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Barbara Bruno, University of Hawaii at Manoa

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STEM education research strongly indicates that students learn more and have lower failure rates in active learning classrooms when compared to traditional lecture-only classrooms. This is even more pronounced for ...
Understanding Student Engagement while Using an Augmented Reality Sandbox ORAL SESSION
Wednesday 3:30pm Northrop Hall: 340

Nicholas Soltis, University of Indianapolis
karen mcneal, Auburn University Main Campus
Rachel Atkins, North Carolina State University
Lindsay Maudlin, North Carolina State University

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Augmented reality (AR) sandboxes are becoming more and more prevalent in undergraduate geology lab settings. This tool is useful in helping students develop a three dimensional understanding of topographic maps ...
Collaborative testing in undergraduate oceanography and geology classes ORAL SESSION
Wednesday 3:30pm Northrop Hall: 116

Barbara Bruno, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Jennifer Engels, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Garrett Ito, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Jeffrey Gillis-Davis, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Henrietta Dulai, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Glenn Carter, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Chip Fletcher, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Daniela Bottjer-Wilson, University of Hawaii at Manoa

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As part of a school-wide course transformation project at the University of Hawaii to improve student learning and retention, multiple geology and oceanography instructors are introducing two-stage exams (Gilley ...
Flipping a Junior Level Sedimentology Course, Unexpected Benefits POSTER SESSION
Wednesday 4:30pm-5:45pm Student Union: Ballroom B

Richard Langford, University of Texas at El Paso

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Recently the sedimentology and stratigraphy course at UTEP was flipped, with lectures recorded and and put online. Class time was devoted to answering questions and introducing and working on laboratory and ...
Understanding ocean circulation using open-ended experiments in an introductory class POSTER SESSION
Wednesday 4:30pm-5:45pm Student Union: Ballroom B

Brendan Hanger, Colorado School of Mines
Penny King, Australian National University
Stephen Eggins, Australian National University
Ross Griffiths, Australian National University

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Density-driven flow is a major driver of ocean circulation that we introduce to Earth Systems Science students using quantitative tank experiments. Recently, we added an open-ended activity to the lab – ...
Mixed-methods research on student geoscience learning at Grand Canyon by complementary in-situ and virtual modalities POSTER SESSION
Wednesday 4:30pm-5:45pm Student Union: Ballroom B

Steven Semken, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus
Thomas Ruberto, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus
Chris Mead, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus
Geoffrey Bruce, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus
Sanlyn Buxner, The University of Arizona
Ariel Anbar, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus

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Not all students enjoy equal access to field-based geoscience learning, even as ever more immersive, rich, and student-centered virtual field experiences become more widely available. No virtual modalities yet ...
Comparing Textbook Chapters and Adaptive Learning Lessons: Assessing Student Learning Motivation in the Earth Sciences POSTER SESSION
Wednesday 4:30pm-5:45pm Student Union: Ballroom B

E. Christa Farmer, Hofstra University
Adam Halpern, Hofstra University
Amy Catalano, Hofstra University

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Do differences exist in how students feel about their learning experiences using an adaptive learning platform versus a traditional textbook? There is a gap in the literature comparing learning motivation between ...
Opengeology.org: the first college-level and comprehensive open educational resource (OER) for introductory geology classes in the US POSTER SESSION
Wednesday 4:30pm-5:45pm Student Union: Ballroom B

Christopher Johnson, Salt Lake Community College
Matthew Affolter, Salt Lake Community College/Cottonwood HS
Cameron Mosher, Salt Lake Community College
Paul Inkenbrandt, Salt Lake Community College

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An open educational resource (OER) is a freely accessible resource such as a book with a creative commons copyright license. OER improves access to education by reducing costs. This may increase enrollment of ...
Current and Future Evolution of the AGI/NAGT Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology POSTER SESSION
Wednesday 4:30pm-5:45pm Student Union: Ballroom B

Vince Cronin, Baylor University

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The 11th edition of the AGI/NAGT Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology (LMPG) is now in print. Sales of the LMPG help support the work of NAGT and AGI. Superior graphics have always been a hallmark of the LMPG ...
Utilizing sUAS (drones) to enhance geology field camp POSTER SESSION
Wednesday 4:30pm-5:45pm Student Union: Ballroom B

Gregory Baker, Colorado Mesa University

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The use of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS)—known to the general population as "drones"—in Earth Science is an obvious extension of remote sensing and geophysics. Geology field courses, or field ...
Using online visualisation tools to reduce spatial thinking barriers in an introductory field methods course POSTER SESSION
Wednesday 4:30pm-5:45pm Student Union: Ballroom B

Jenny Riker, University of Bristol

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Almost every course we teach in earth sciences requires spatial thinking; this is particularly true of field-based courses. Spatial skills can be especially challenging to teach at an introductory level, as ...