Opportunities for Two-Year College Geoscience Faculty at GSA 2014

Short courses, technical sessions, and special events at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in Vancouver, BC.

Also, a funding opportunity for 2YC geoscience faculty.

Jump to: Short Courses | Technical Sessions | Other Events | Funding Opportunity

Short Courses (Selected)

Short Course Early Registration Deadline: September 15, 2014

To sign up for a workshop/short course, use the GSA meeting registration. You can add a workshop/short course to your meeting registration or attend a workshop/shortcourse as a stand-alone event without registering for the entire meeting.

Early registration ends on 15 September. After that date, course prices go up by $30. This is to encourage registrants to sign up prior to this date to ensure course viability. See the GSA Short Courses web page for further details and a complete list of all GSA short courses.

517A. Teaching Geoscience in Society: Building Relevance and Interest in the Geosciences by Adding InTeGrate Resources to Your Class
Sat., 18 Oct., 8 a.m.ânoon
US$50 CEU: 0.4 Max. class size: 40
Instructors: Anne Egger, Central Washington University; David McConnell, North Carolina State University
Cosponsors: National Association of Geoscience Teachers; GSA Geoscience Education Division

Show Description

What can we do to reframe the geosciences in ways that engage students in our classes? How do we prepare these students for a future where they will confront climate change, water availability issues, resource depletion, and other grand challenges that will require a robust understanding of the intersection between the geosciences and society? One key strategy is to incorporate these issues into geoscience teaching at all levels and for all students. InTeGrate has developed a set of community-built modules that directly address Earth-related grand challenges. These modular units can be adopted wholesale or in parts, and each feature resources to develop students' abilities to address interdisciplinary problems, improve geoscientific thinking skills, make use of authentic geoscience data, and incorporate systems thinking. These materials have been developed and tested by faculty at a variety of types of institutions and come with built in assessments and resources for both instructors and students. Topics range from environmental justice and freshwater resources to climate change, mineral resources, sustainable land use, and natural hazards. In this workshop, we will explore the InTeGrate materials, discuss the underlying design rubric, and work with participants to adapt the materials to their institutional and geographic setting.

518A. Teaching Controversial Issues 1: Climate and Energy
Sat., 18 Oct., 8 a.m.ânoon
US$35. Limit: 30. CEU: 0.4.
Instructors: Don Duggan-Haas, Paleontological Research Institution and its Museum of the Earth; Glenn Dolphin, University of Calgary; Laura Guertin, Pennsylvania StateâBrandywine; Scott Mandia, Suffolk County Community College; Robert Ross, Paleontological Research Institute and its Museum of the Earth
Cosponsors: National Association of Geoscience Teachers; GSA Geoscience Education Division; GSA History and Philosophy of Geology Division

Show Description

Climate and energy are topics rife with controversy, which provides challenges and opportunities for teaching. This is one of two connected courses on controversial issues that may be taken separately or together. Questions addressed include: Why are certain issues controversial? How do controversial issues differ from one another? How can we help learners focus on deepening understandings rather than fortifying positions? What does the history of controversy teach us about dealing with these issues? Both courses will investigate the teaching of controversial issues from theoretical perspectives and provide nuts-and-bolts strategies to make teaching such topics more effective and less divisive.

518D. Teaching Controversial Issues 2: Evolution of Life and Earth
Sat., 18 Oct., 1â5 p.m.
US$35. Limit: 30. CEU: 0.4.
Instructors: Don Duggan-Haas, Paleontological Research Institution and its Museum of the Earth; Glenn Dolphin, University of Calgary; Laura Guertin, Pennsylvania StateâBrandywine; Scott Mandia, Suffolk County Community College; Robert Ross, Paleontological Research Institute and its Museum of the Earth
Cosponsors: National Association of Geoscience Teachers; GSA Geoscience Education Division; GSA History and Philosophy of Geology Division

Show Description

Evolutionary history and ocean science are rife with controversy, which provides challenges and opportunities for teaching. This is one of two connected courses on controversial issues that may be taken separately or together. Questions addressed include: Why are certain issues controversial? How do controversial issues differ from one another? How can we help learners focus on deepening understandings rather than fortifying positions? What does the history of controversy teach us about dealing with these issues? Both courses will investigate the teaching of controversial issues from theoretical perspectives and provide nuts-and-bolts strategies to make teaching such topics more effective and less divisive.

Technical Sessions (Selected)

T62. Supporting Student Success in Colleges and Universities
Conveners: Robert H. Blodgett, Norlene R. Emerson, Bruce E. Herbert
Presentations can address working with underserved subpopulations (e.g. first generation students, students with disabilities), promoting self-reflection and metacognition, motivating students, improving study skills, reducing math/science/nature anxiety and stereotype threat, and other topics.

T64. Transdisciplinary Thinking in Geoscience Education at Two-Year and Four-Year Colleges: Innovations in Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Assessment in Introductory Geoscience Courses
Conveners: Benjamin Wolfe, Merry Wilson
Effective interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary curriculum practices are essential for student success in introductory geoscience courses. Submissions may include learning communities, service and field-based learning, writing across the curriculum, and learning outcomes assessment.

T70. Undertaking Environmental- and Geoscience-Related Research Investigation as Part of Experiential Learning, Comprehension, and Critical Thinking Aspects: Involvement of K12â16 Students (Posters)
Convener: Nazrul I. Khandaker
This topical session is primarily aimed at opening doors to K12â16 students to share their basic geology and environmental research information with the participants as part of experiential learning, comprehension, and critical thinking aspects.

Other events of interest

Educators Reception - This fun and informal reception is a great way for you to network with educators from all backgrounds and levels from around the country. Appetizers and a cash bar are provided. October 19th 7-9 p in the Hyatt Regency, Georgia A/B

Workshop and Discussion 'Undergraduate Research with Students at Two-year Colleges'
In conjunction with the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting; co-sponsored by SAGE 2YC, COSEE-Pacific Partnerships, CUR, GSA Education Division, NAGT, NAGTGeo2YC, and AGU Education and Public Outreach Program.
Co-convened by Heather Macdonald and Eric Baer
Tuesday October 21, 5:15-6:30pm. Hyatt Regency - Oxford Room.

Geo2YC Division of NAGT business meeting
Come join the discussion and help celebrate our new and outgoing officers. October 19th, 5-7 p.m in the Hyatt Regency, Plaza Ballroom B.

Funding Opportunity: Stipends Available

Subaru-sponsored GSA program

Thanks to Suburu of America, Inc., up to 23 2YC instructors with at least half-time appointments who attend a GSA short course will receive $200. To receive this funding:

Be one of the first 23 2YC faculty to submit an application form to Davida Buehler (dbuehler@geosociety.org) including proof (signature of your dean or supervisor or a human resources representative) that you teach at least half-time at a two-year college.

Attend a short course at the meeting.

Stipends will be distributed after the annual meeting; however, recipients will be notified prior to the meeting. For more information, please contact Davida Buehler (dbuehler@geosociety.org) or go to GSA's Educators webpage.