Rachel Teasdale
Earth and Environmental Sciences
California State University-Chico
Rachel Teasdale is a professor in the department of Earth & Environmental Sciences at California State University, Chico. She is a leader on the RTOP research project investigating reform teaching in geoscience classrooms across the US and has also co-authored InTeGrate and GETSI modules (Living on the Edge: Building resilient societies on active plate margins and Monitoring Volcanoes and Communicating Risks). In addition to geoscience education research, Rachel's research also includes physical volcanology and igneous petrology, best practices in training graduate teaching assistants and faculty professional development.
Website Content Contributions
Course Modules (7)
Unit 3 Hazards at Divergent Plate Boundaries part of Living on the Edge
Students work in small groups to examine data and videos of earthquakes, submarine volcanic eruptions, and black smokers at submarine divergent plate boundaries, and then predict similar processes at subaerial ...
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Activities (3)
Monday Morning Meeting (II): Monitoring Mount St. Helens 2004 dome growth using authentic data part of Teach the Earth:Teaching Activities
This jigsaw activity groups students first as volcano monitoring experts of either RSAM seismic data, earthquake locations, or GPS data, and then regroups students into interdisciplinary teams. The teams discuss ...
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Rivers and Streams part of Introductory Courses:Activities
This lab activity has students collect stream data in the field and calculate flow velocity, discharge and gradient. Additional activities include plotting clast size on a Hjulstrom Diagram, and unit conversions.
Prework for Rivers and Streams Lab (Intro Geology) part of Quantitative Skills:Activity Collection
In order to give Introductory Geology (Physical Geology) undergraduate non-majors students experience and confidence in using basic algebra to calculate very simple stream flow properties, we use a prework assignment prior to the Rivers and Streams Lab. Prework is a worksheet assigned 2 weeks in advance, which asks students to calculate velocity and discharge as well as unit conversions and calculations of stream load. The questions are put into the context of activities they completed earlier in the semester during visits to the stream (on campus) so questions are relevant to their previous experiences. The prework timeframe gives students the opportunity to seek extra help from their instructor prior to the lab period in which they will make additional measurements, similar calcualations and interpretations of their data.
Courses (2)
General Geology part of Introductory Courses:Courses
General Geology at CSU Chico is an introduction to physical geology in which students learn about the origin of the earth, rocks and minerals, development of geologic landforms and processes. The lab component of ...
General Geology part of Quantitative Skills:Courses
This is the lab section of the introductory physical geology class. Lab activities are designed to be hands on activities for students to better understand broad topics discussed in the "lecture" section ...
Essay (1)
Essay on Introductory Courses I Teach part of Introductory Courses:Virtual Workshop 2014:Essay Collection
Rachel Teasdale, Geological and Environmental Sciences, California State University-Chico 1. How my introductory course(s) serve my students, department, and institution. The GEOS 101, General Geology course at ...
Conference Presentations (16)
Opportunities for Classroom Observation Protocols to Advance the GER Community Framework part of Earth Educators Rendezvous:Rendezvous 2024:Program:Poster Sessions:Friday Poster Session
Third-party observations using validated observation protocols (OPs) provide a reliable way of recording teacher and student behaviors across different classrooms and institutions. Observations can be used to ...
Other Contributions (19)
Rachel Teasdale: Using Monitoring Volcanoes and Communicating Risks in Volcanology at California State University-Chico part of Monitoring Volcanoes and Communicating Risks
Course topics are explored using in-class group work, lab-style activities and field observations and interpretations. Instructor curated readings (and point-earning Reading Logs) are offered to students before each class period to prepare them for class activities. The format of GETSI Monitoring Volcanoes and Communicating Risks (MVCR) module activities are a good example of course activities throughout the semester. Students I have used other InTeGrate modules in my large-enrollment introductory geology course, which I had in mind while writing the MVCR module but it was fun to see the volcanology students so engaged in learning data types and discussing the nuances of evolving eruption scenarios and the interpretations and implications of the data they examined.
Communities
Far Western Section, Geoscience Education Research Division
8 activities reviewed
July 2024 Earth Educators Rendezvous 2022
July 2022 Earth Educators Rendezvous 2021
July 2021 Earth Educators Rendezvous 2020
July 2020 Earth Educators Rendezvous 2019
July 2019 Earth Educators Rendezvous 2018
July 2018 Earth Educators Rendezvous 2017
July 2017 Earth Educators Rendezvous 2016
July 2016 Earth Educators Rendezvous 2015
July 2015 Monitoring Volcanoes and Communicating Risks Interest Group
NAGT Webinar Series Interest
Imaging Active Tectonics Interest Group
GPS, Strain, and Earthquakes
GETSI Interest Group
Earth Educators' Rendezvous Interest Group
InTeGrate Materials Developers
Integrate/GETSI 2023 Survey
GETSI Community
NAGT All
EER 2024 fMRI Lab Tour - Thursday
Teach the Earth
RTOP Observers
LeaderAnalyzing High Resolution Topography with TLS and SfM
Workshop Leader (9 workshops)
April 2022GETSI Virtual Short Course 6 Volcanoes and Risks
February 2021EER 2020 Inquiry Based Labs
July 2020
Workshop Participant (52 workshops)
July 2020 EER 2020 Science Communication
July 2020 ITG 2019 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Workshop
April 2019