Jennifer Wenner

Magma Modification in the central Sierra Nevada Batholith part of Petrology:Teaching Examples
This exercise is centered around a suite of rocks from the Sierra Nevada batholith. The activities are designed to give petrology students a capstone experience for the igneous portion of the upper-level Petrology ...

Ordering Geologic Events and Interpreting Geologic History: The Grand Canyon part of Introductory Courses:Activities
This activity is designed to have students re-examine rocks they looked at earlier in the semester and use them to interpret some of the geologic history of the Grand Canyon.

Toilet Paper Analogy for Geologic Time part of Quantitative Skills:Activity Collection
An in class demonstration of the vastness of geologic time using a 1000-roll sheet of toilet paper and unrolling it around the room.

Using functions in an introductory geoscience course part of Quantitative Skills:Activity Collection
A template and two exercises (CO2 and population growth) designed to increase the graphical literacy of students in introductory geoscience and mathematics courses.

Demonstration of radioactive decay using pennies part of Quantitative Skills:Activity Collection
A demonstration (with full class participation) to illustrate radioactive decay by flipping coins. Shows students visually the concepts of exponential decay, half-life and randomness. Works best in large classes -- the more people, the better.

VEPP: Will it Erupt? - Predicting Volcanic Events at Kilauea - Preparing the next generation of DISASTRONAUTs part of NAGT:Our Resources:Teaching Resources:Volcano Exploration Project: Pu`u `O`o:Examples
This is an exercise that is in development and will not be fully tested in the classroom until Spring 2011. Please check back regularly for updates and changes. Using data available from the VEPP website, students ...

Using Popcorn to Simulate Radioactive Decay part of Quantitative Skills:Activity Collection
Popping popcorn in your class is an excellent way to illustrate both the spontaneity and irreversible change associated with radioactive decay. It helps students to understand the unpredictability of decay.

M&M Model for Radioactive Decay part of Quantitative Skills:Activity Collection
A tasty in-class demonstration of radioactive decay using two colors of M&M's. Illustrates the quantitative concepts of probability and exponential decay. This activity is appropriate for small classes (<40 students).

Geoscience Success Lessons: Instructional Intervention to Help Introductory Geology Students Increase their Interest in Geology part of Earth Educators Rendezvous:Previous Rendezvous:Rendezvous 2020:Program:Poster Sessions:Posters
Interest in geology topics does not necessarily occur spontaneously, particularly for students in introductory geology classes. If students' level of interest in geology topics increases, they can also ...

Geoscience Success Lessons: Short interventions to improve student success in introductory geology labs part of Earth Educators Rendezvous:Previous Rendezvous:Rendezvous 2020:Program:Poster Sessions:Posters
Geoscience students report math skills and attitudes as a barrier to their interest and success in geoscience. Yet, few studies have examined whether math serves as a barrier to student success and persistence ...

Strategies for engaging with Teach the Earth online resources part of Earth Educators Rendezvous:Previous Rendezvous:Rendezvous 2020:Program:Poster Sessions:Posters
Have you been overwhelmed by the sheer number of resources on Teach the Earth? Have you wished for more guidance on how to navigate the Teach the Earth Portal? Would you like to contribute to the community of ...

Building on-ramps to more effective teaching in tectonics part of Earth Educators Rendezvous:Previous Rendezvous:Rendezvous 2019:Program:Poster Sessions:Wednesday
Despite significant gains over the last two decades, there remains a large percentage of geoscience faculty who have yet to move toward incorporating engaged teaching practices in their courses. Following ...

Exploring the many ways that instructors use TMYN part of Rendezvous 2015:Program:Abstracts
We explore the many ways that The Math You Need, When You Need It (TMYN) is used both formally and informally to support quantitative skills use and development in the geosciences. TMYN was originally designed as a ...

Navigating and Contributing to Teach the Earth part of Earth Educators Rendezvous:Previous Rendezvous:Rendezvous 2020:Program:Afternoon Workshops
Have you developed an activity that you're especially proud of and think others might benefit from? Have you ever visited the Teach the Earth portal (sometimes known as SERC) and felt overwhelmed by the volume ...

Physical Geology at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh part of Math You Need:Implementations
Implementor(s): Jennifer Wenner, Christie Demosthenous, Kate Kramer Enrollment: 140-180 Challenges to using math in geoscience University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a four-year comprehensive university located in NE ...

Teaching your upper-level course online: A Community Collaboration to build robust online Geoscience courses part of Earth Educators Rendezvous:Previous Rendezvous:Rendezvous 2020:Program:Morning Workshops:Teaching Online
Are you worried about teaching your upper-level course in one of the "alternate" formats required by the COVID-19 pandemic? Or perhaps you already did so and know what worked pretty well and what needs ...

Teaching for Quantitative Literacy in Undergraduate Geoscience Courses part of Earth Educators Rendezvous:Previous Rendezvous:Rendezvous 2018:Program:Morning Workshops:Teaching for Quantitative Literacy in Undergraduate Geoscience Courses
Participants will work in small groups to integrate quantitative literacy into a pre-existing geoscience course (both introductory and upper-level courses are appropriate). Groups will consider appropriate ...