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Amy Ellwein
Natural and Environmental Sciences
Western Colorado University
Now a Research Professor at Western Colorado University, Amy Ellwein was the Director of Science Education and Communications at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory from 2010 to 2019. From 2007 to 2010, Amy was a lecturer in the Natural Sciences Program at the University of New Mexico, then a Visiting Professor of Geology and Science Education from 2010 to 2013 at Western, teaching integrated lab-lecture science courses for non-majors and education majors (pre-service teachers). She was a founding member of the Science Education Institute of the Southwest (SEIS) - a New Mexico based organization providing science professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers from 2003-2013 (e.g. see links below - Geobotany, Watersheds and Rivers, Using Scientific Data, etc.).
Website Content Contributions
Activities (3)
The Activity Model for Inquiry: Reflective Writing Prompts part of Process of Science:Examples
Reflective writing is be a valuable communication tool between instructor and student that fosters critical thinking. When combined with a better model of the scientific method (the AMI) than the "standard" linear model, learners gain a better understanding of the process of science.
Exploring Earth Systems Science: The Interactive GLOBE Earth System Poster part of Integrate:Workshops and Webinars:Teaching the Methods of Geoscience:Activities
Active Learning and Lasting Impacts: Reflective Writing in a Field-Based Geobotany Course for Teachers part of Teacher Preparation:Resource Collections:Activities
In this upper-division, week-long, residential field geobotany course for K-12 in-service and pre-service teachers, participants make observations and interpretations in both the field and lab every day. At the end of each day, participants write about their experiences, self-confidence, and perceived competence as an amateur scientist during a reflective writing exercise, for which instructors provide feedback each evening.
Courses (3)
Using Scientific Data For Multi-Disciplinary Science Instruction (PD for K-12 Teachers) part of Integrate:Workshops and Webinars:Teaching the Methods of Geoscience:Course
Using Scientific Data is a professional development course for in-service K-12 teachers focused on climate change and Earth system science that also explores how climate concepts can be incorporated into courses ...
Watersheds and Rivers part of Process of Science:Courses
This course uses simple yet authentic methods to describe properties of a local river system in order to better understand how all rivers function. The process of science is explicitly discussed and examined ...
University of New Mexico - Geobotany part of Teacher Preparation:Resource Collections:Courses
This field-based course for pre- and in-service teachers was modified from an upper-level Botany course to focus on earth and life science content as described in the revised 2003 New Mexico Science Standards. For ...
Essay (1)
Want better-prepared students? Teach teachers to think like geoscientists part of Integrate:Workshops and Webinars:Teaching the Methods of Geoscience:Essays
Want better-prepared students? Teach teachers to think like geoscientists Amy Ellwein, Geology Program, Western State College of Colorado Among other courses, I teach inquiry-based, integrated lab-lecture science ...
Other Contribution (1)
Theme Group 1: Earth Science for Secondary Teachers - Connection to Place part of Teacher Preparation:Workshops and Activities:Workshop 2007
Group Members Beth Pratt-Sitaula, Pacific Northwest Geology Gary Solar, Geology of New York State Amy Ellwein, Geobotany Joel Johnson, Earth System Science for Teachers Approach to Teaching the Course What ...