Faculty Accounts of Teaching Geoscientific Thinking

The child as history: recapitulation goes to school
Kip Ault, Lewis & Clark College
An academic essay page analyzing the historical influence of recapitulation theory and Herbartian philosophy on child-centered education, emphasizing evolutionary analogies in developmental pedagogy, the role of G. Stanley Hall and John Dewey, and connections to modern science teaching methods in geoscience education. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

Teaching the methods of geoscience in a mineralogy class
Dave Mogk, Montana State University
A pedagogical essay page detailing how mineralogy instruction can scaffold geoscience methods—integrating historical scientific development, theoretical reasoning, analytical techniques, and societal relevance—to cultivate students' scientific habits of mind and professional preparation in geoscience education. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

Why do we teach geoscience to non-majors?
Kaatje van der Hoeven Kraft, Whatcom Community College
An essay page from the InTeGrate project discussing the rationale for teaching geoscience to non-majors, emphasizing scientific literacy, the process of geoscience, modeling, and the role of introductory courses in fostering informed citizens through explicit instruction and experiential learning. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

Enjoy making observations and being frustrated? If you answered "yes", a career in geoscience is for you!
Becca Walker, Mt San Antonio College
This webpage is an educational essay by Becca Walker discussing the teaching of geoscience methods, emphasizing observation, interpretation, pattern recognition through multiple lines of evidence, and embracing uncertainty in scientific inquiry, particularly within community college geology education. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

The development of my understanding of the methods of earth science
Jeffrey D. Thomas, Central Connecticut State University
Personal essay detailing an earth science educator's pedagogical evolution from traditional lecture-based instruction to embracing diverse inquiry methods, including systems thinking and data-driven investigations, to teach geoscience concepts effectively. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

Teaching the scientific method at a community college
Pier Bartow, Klamath Community College
Essay detailing a community college's standardized six-step scientific method curriculum, emphasizing pedagogical continuity, student reinforcement, and geoscience education practices at Klamath Community College. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

It's scary to feel uncertain
Kim Hannula, Fort Lewis College
This educational essay page discusses teaching uncertainty in geoscience education, emphasizing how students at all levels often display unwarranted certainty in interpreting data, and advocates for fostering scientific habits of mind that embrace uncertainty, critical self-reflection, and modeling assumptions in structural geology instruction. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

Using research to teach the methods of geoscience
Anne Egger, Central Washington University
A personal essay page detailing how incorporating geoscience research into teaching helps students from diverse disciplines understand the methods of geoscience, particularly through inquiry-based learning, interdisciplinary connections, and explicit narration of scientific processes in both research-intensive and teacher preparation settings. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

Curiosity based learning and self-education
Paulo Hidalgo, Georgia State University
This is an educational essay page discussing curiosity-based learning and self-education in geoscience, emphasizing the role of educators in reviving students' innate curiosity through inquiry-driven, student-centered methods and lifelong learning principles. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

Want better-prepared students? Teach teachers to think like geoscientists
Amy Ellwein, Western Colorado University
Essay page from the InTeGrate project discussing how geoscience courses for pre- and in-service K–12 teachers should emphasize inquiry-based learning, field observations, reflective writing, and the use of science notebooks to help educators think and teach like geoscientists, thereby improving student preparation. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.