GPS Plate Motion at Broadway High School

I just implemented the GPS Plate Motion EET Chapter with my Geology BRCC students. These students are dually-enrolled at Blue Ridge Community College in my Physical Geology course, so are at a more advanced level.

I did try to implement this with my regular geology students, but with little success. Unfortunately, the amount of reading and the skill level required to work with Excel and also the math was just beyond their reach, even though they are 11-12 grade students who have had the necessary prerequisite experience. Socially, this illustrates the gap that exists amongst students at the high school in which I teach. The students in these classes plan on careers in various trades and, in many cases, have only had very basic algebra and only a cursory exposure to Excel.

I think that this has alot to do with the emphasis on passing the standardized tests and the quest to retain AYP -- which often means that the focus stays on trying to get kids to master very basic skills rather than attempting inquiry-based learning and aplication of those skills. Higher level students can do this activity easily, but many lower level students cannot.

Here is the discussion of my experience using this chapter with my students.