Alexandra Davatzes

Using Citizen Science in the Online GenEd classroom part of Teach the Earth:Teaching Activities
I use citizen science projects that are abundantly available on the web as a way to teach non-majors about the scientific process and as a way to teach them about geoscience/environmental science. I use this in an ...

Evolutions and Extinctions part of Introductory Courses:Courses
Basic geologic principles and the fundamentals of evolutionary thought combine to bring to life the 4.6 billion year story of our planet and its creatures. Through hands-on experience with fossils and rocks, ...

Learning to Form Accurate Mental Models part of GET Spatial Learning:Blog
Drs. Alexandra Davatzes, Kristin Gagnier, Ilyse Resnick and Thomas F. Shipley wrote a featured article for Eos! Read it here: Eos - Learning to Form Accurate Mental Models

Using Classroom Response Systems for Research on Learning part of GET Spatial Learning:Blog
Do you use clickers in your classroom? If so, there are simple ways you can use the technology to pre-assess students' conceptual knowledge, ask students to make predictions, and provide timely feedback to ...

Using Analogies to Teach in the Geosciences part of GET Spatial Learning:Blog
Teachers often use analogies when describing complicated new material to their students. Sometimes they are not even aware that they are using analogies because they do it automatically. Whenever an explanation ...

Why is teaching and learning about feedback loops hard? part of Earth Educators Rendezvous:Previous Rendezvous:Rendezvous 2020:Program:Oral Sessions:Oral Session II
Feedback loops provide a powerful explanatory framework for analyzing important Earth and environmental processes, such as climate change and predatory/prey balance. Our pilot research and review of the literature ...

Supporting Minority Students at Temple University part of Integrate:Program Design:Increase Diversity:Supporting Minority Students
The Math Mentor Program was developed at our large state-affiliated university as a mechanism to support students through the fundamental math courses required for the geoscience major. Math Mentors were junior or senior Geology or Environmental Science majors, and their role was to support students through development of study skills and support, not act as tutors.

Teaching and Learning About Feedback Loops part of Earth Educators Rendezvous:Previous Rendezvous:Rendezvous 2021:Program:Morning Workshops:Teaching and Learning About Feedback Loops
Feedback loops (FLs) are a powerful concept for Earth educators in the 21st century. Reinforcing (aka "positive") feedback loops underlie many environmental problems, including climate change and ...