Fred Siewers

Rates of Change and Deep Time in the Middle Grades Classroom part of Rates and Time:GSA Activity Posters
The nature and scientific measurement of geological and cosmological time are among the most misunderstood and difficult to teach concepts in all of K-12 science education. To address this issue, a multi-disciplinary team of geologists, astronomers and education professionals at Western Kentucky University developed a series of professional development workshops for pre- and in-service middle grades teachers. The participants clearly advanced their content understanding of geological and cosmological time and the implementation plans received clearly show a desire to apply many of the activities learned in the workshop.

Geology at Western Kentucky University: turning Earth Enthusiasts into Engaged Earth Scientists part of Integrate:Workshops and Webinars:Broadening Access to the Earth and Environmental Sciences:Essays
Essay detailing Western Kentucky University's geology program pedagogy that transforms student enthusiasm into scientific engagement through fieldwork, analytical training, and career preparation within an inclusive, first-generation student-supportive environment.

Supporting Minority Students at Western Kentucky University part of Integrate:Program Design:Increase Diversity:Supporting Minority Students
Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a public, comprehensive university of over 21,000 students. It is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and it is one of nine state-supported institutions in Kentucky's postsecondary system. The university was founded as a Normal school in 1906. Over time it evolved beyond its Teacher College roots to become, in 1966, a University with six distinct colleges. It is currently the largest four-year comprehensive university in Kentucky. The Geology program at WKU is part of the Department of Geography and Geology and WKU's Ogden College of Science and Engineering. The Department is one of the oldest at WKU with roots traceable back to WKU's early Teacher College years. The department has always had a strong connection to the cave and karst landscape of south-central, KY, including Mammoth Cave National Park; the karst resources of the region have been a major attraction and an important focus of the department's activities and its educational programs. The Department of Geography and Geology currently has 206 active majors among four programs: geography (61 majors), geology (63 majors), meteorology (70 majors) and geographic information systems (12 majors). The demographic make-up of the Department is similar to College of Science and Engineering; approximately two-thirds of the students are male and 80% of the students are white. These data differ from the University as a whole, which although predominantly white (79%), has more female undergraduate students (58%) than male students (42%).

Western Kentucky University Geology, Western Kentucky University part of Strong Geoscience Departments:Degree Programs:Curriculum Profiles
A curriculum profile page detailing Western Kentucky University’s geology program, covering its four degree concentrations (BS and BA), program goals, course sequencing, capstone requirements, student demographics, alumni career outcomes, and assessment methods, aimed at geoscience education and departmental planning.