Faculty Accounts of Teaching Geoscientific Thinking

Differences in the methodology and justification of the field sciences and the classical experimental sciences
Carol Cleland, University of Colorado at Boulder
Philosophical analysis comparing the distinct methodologies of historical field sciences and classical experimental sciences, emphasizing how time asymmetry in causation shapes their evidential reasoning, with field sciences relying on trace-based "smoking gun" detection for past events while experimental sciences focus on controlled prediction. 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 geoscience methods to pre-service elementary teachers
Kyle Gray, University of Northern Iowa
An essay page from the InTeGrate project discussing strategies for teaching geoscience inquiry methods—emphasizing inductive, place-based learning—to pre-service elementary teachers, highlighting curriculum design, student perceptions, and challenges in field-based and online 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.

Lithic literacy and the "forensic" methods of geoscience
James Ebert, SUNY College at Oneonta
An academic essay page discussing the teaching of geoscience through forensic-style inquiry and lithic literacy, emphasizing observational skills, interpretation of rock evidence, and inductive reasoning in reconstructing Earth's history. 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 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.

Geoscience by example
Ntungwa Maasha, College of Coastal Georgia
This personal essay page details a geoscientist's experience revising Liberia's University of Liberia geology curriculum and reflects on teaching methodologies, departmental resilience during civil unrest, alumni success, and the importance of collaborative, example-based pedagogy 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.

Geoscience methods applied to real-world problems
Kathleen Harper, The University of Montana-Missoula
This webpage is an educational essay discussing how geoscience methods—such as observation, measurement, and modeling—are applied to real-world problems like natural hazards, resource management, and environmental issues, with regional and global case studies to enhance science 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.

Should we teach how to cope with uncertainty and incomplete data?
Scott Linneman, Western Washington University
An educational essay page discussing the importance of teaching students to cope with uncertainty and incomplete data in geoscience education, emphasizing the role of authentic data, historical context, and field experiences in developing scientific resilience and critical thinking within Earth science pedagogy. 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.

Geoscience fundamentals: teaching the methods and philosophies of science through writing
Barbara Bekken, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ
A scholarly essay page detailing the development and pedagogy of a required undergraduate course, "Geoscience Fundamentals," that teaches scientific thinking, geoscience methodologies, and discipline-specific communication through writing, reflection, and problem-based learning to better prepare students for careers or graduate study in the geosciences. 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 use of field experience and anecdotes in teaching
Joel Aquino, University of North Georgia / Hall County Schools
An essay page detailing how a geoscience educator integrates field experience and personal anecdotes into teaching to enhance student engagement, emphasizing real-world applications, process-oriented labs, and cross-cultural perspectives in 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.