Teaching and Developing Quantitative Literacy in the Geosciences

Wednesday 1:30pm-4:00pm Ogg: Classroom 1227

Afternoon Mini Workshop

Leader

Jackie Caplan-Auerbach, Western Washington University

Geology is perceived by many students as a qualitative science, and thus is attractive to students who love science but are afraid of math. As a result, many students of geology are either intimidated by, or underprepared in math when they enter the discipline. This workshop will focus on methods that may be used to clarify quantitative concepts without reducing mathematical rigor. Participants will develop ways of guiding students through advanced quantitative ideas using both visual and written methods.

Goals

This workshop focuses on identifying and practicing techniques to help students work with numbers and mathematical concepts. These techniques include estimation, understanding orders of magnitude, interpreting graphs, and understanding the processes represented by equations.

To identify road blocks for students in their understanding of quantitative material
To practice methods of visualizing quantitative material
To use prose descriptions as a tool for understanding equations and graphs