Apply to Author an Introductory Geoscience/Environmental Science Module

Application deadline is February 15, 2013.

As part of our effort to develop new types of teaching materials, InTeGrate is seeking team members who will collaboratively author, test, revise and publish modular teaching materials for use in college-level introductory geoscience or environmental science courses. The goal of these modules is to support broad development of geoscience literacy by teaching about geoscience in the context of societal issues. A module would fully support teaching of a topic over approximately two weeks of classes. Modules for this year are:

• Energy and sustainability for the next generation: Module materials should examine the factors that will influence future decisions about energy use and how those choices may effect the Earth system.
• Living on the edge: Discuss the costs and benefits of living on the edge of a tectonic plate with particular emphasis on the west coast of North America and equivalent settings in less developed nations/regions.
• Earth systems and ecosystems in Earth's history: Explain how life has affected conditions on Earth and how changes to Earth affected life on the planet and what are the implications for our future.
• Changing the chemistry of Earth: Discuss the nature of biogeochemical changes in the Earth system due to human development and what this predicts for the future of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and/or biosphere.
• Into the Blue: Examine how the small things we do every day result in permanent and profound changes in the character of the world's oceans. What is the nature of those changes and implications for the future of the Earth system?

Note: Authors interested in geoscientific thinking, teaching the methods of geoscience, or integrating geoscience concepts into teaching about societal issues in upper level level geoscience courses or in programs outside of the geosciences are directed to this year's call for courses and modules.

All materials will be developed, tested and published by collaborative teams of three members drawn from a minimum of three institutions. Each team member will receive a $15,000 stipend for their work authoring, testing, revising, and publishing the teaching materials and supporting materials for faculty. All materials will be published on the InTeGrate website and will be freely available to faculty for educational use. Proposals may come from fully formed teams, from partially formed teams, or from individuals. If you have a proposal idea and are seeking additional team members or if you would like to explore proposals seeking team members, please visit the Seeking Team Members page.

Learn more about the InTeGrate materials development and testing process and requirements for authors.

Proposals will be selected based on:

• alignment of the proposed materials with one of the foci described above
• the proposed mechanisms for linking geoscience and societal issues, developing systems thinking, developing geoscientific thinking skills, integrating data, and improving students ability to address interdisciplinary problems.
• the effective use of research based teaching methods that engage students in learning
• the potential for widespread adoption of the proposed materials or course materials

Please complete the application form if you are interested in being a module author. Submissions will be accepted until February 15, 2013. Selected team members must be available to attend an planning workshop May 19-22, 2013. Attendance at the workshop is mandatory for all team members. Travel and lodging costs will be covered by the project.

For additional information please contact: David McConnell (damcconn AT ncsu.edu)