Resources for Teaching Introductory Courses
Various projects across SERC contain useful information to provide information and inspiration for teaching introductory-level courses. A collection of these sites is listed below and includes
general information about teaching intro-level courses as well as
examples activities and courses for introductory-level students courses and
other useful information about teaching a the introductory level. While many of these resources are geared towards the geoscience community, they can be modified to fit other science disciplines.
General Information and Tips For Teaching Introductory Courses
Cutting Edge - Teaching Introductory Courses - This web module is for those who teach introductory courses, aimed specifically at Earth science educators, but with ideas applicable to many disciplines. Here you will find ideas for designing a new course, spicing up an existing
course design, or adding innovative
activities or
teaching methods.
Starting Point - Teaching Entry-Level Geoscience - This SERC project contains over 20 modules built around
pedagogic approaches for introductory courses, plus hundreds of
example activities.
Preparing Teachers to Teach Earth Science - A special section aimed at
preparing K-12 teachers for teaching Earth science courses. This site also has a section for
preparing pre-service teachers to teach introductory courses.
Example Introductory Level Activities and Courses
Introductory Level Geoscience Course Collection - From the Cutting Edge project, an extensive collection of
introductory-level geoscience courses, spanning a host of geoscience topics.
Introductory Level Geoscience Activity Collection - From the Cutting Edge project, browse over 400
classroom and lab activities aimed at intro-level geoscience audiences.
Other Useful Information for Teaching Introductory Level Students
Introductory Courses Bookshelf - A list of
popular books used by faculty in their intro courses.
Common Misconceptions in Science - A page on
misconceptions often held by intro-level general and Earth science students.
First Day of Class - This module contains
tips and videos for
how to engage students on the first day of class and lab.
Strategies for Introducing Quantitative Skills in Intro Courses - This site hosts a
list of articles from the Journal of Geoscience Education that focus on integrating quantitative skills into the introductory-level classroom. A similar page for
tips on teaching quantitative skills is also available.
Motivating Students - Students who are taking a required science course may not have a high degree of motivation. This page discusses various types of motivation and the factors that can enhance motivation. Find teaching tips, presentations from the Affective Domain workshop and a summary of useful websites and journal articles.
