
Kaatje van der Hoeven Kraft
Physical Science, Science Dept.
Whatcom Community College
Kaatje (she/her) teaches introductory geology classes at Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, WA. Her research interests are in student motivation and interest as it pertains to introductory science courses. In particular, how research on motivation and interest can help to create environments in which all students feel like they can belong and feel connected to the geosciences. Kaatje is working to integrate aspects of anti-racism and decolonization discussions into her introductory geology/oceanography classrooms.
Website Content Contributions
Activities (10)
Making the "black box" model more transparent part of Metacognition:Activities
Students will work with a "mystery box" to determine it's contents through an inductive reasoning process in order to better understand how models are used for geoscientific ways of knowing.
Learn more about this review process.
Course (1)
Geologic Disasters & the Environment part of Introductory Courses:Courses
This class teaches the essentials of geologic disasters and environmental geology to non-major students. Students examine human interactions with Earth and vice versa. This course is taught through a case study ...
Essays (5)
Integrating Undergraduate Research into the Geosciences at a Two-Year College part of Integrate:Workshops and Webinars:Broadening Access to the Earth and Environmental Sciences:Essays
Kaatje Kraft, Physical Science, Mesa Community College Research supports that undergraduate research (UGR) is critical for preparing students to be successful in STEM domains. In addition, there is evidence that ...
Conference Presentations (5)
Examination of affective factors predicting introductory geology student's intent to persist part of Rendezvous 2015:Program:Abstracts
The 2014 Status of the Workforce report for the geosciences (AGI) projected a shortage of geoscientists for the workforce. In order to address this projected shortage, majors need to be considered from a more ...
Other Contributions (10)
Kaatje Kraft: Using Monitoring Volcanoes and Communicating Risks in Natural Disasters at Whatcom Community College part of Monitoring Volcanoes and Communicating Risks
This module was implemented in my natural disasters class that examines how humans are impacted by natural disasters and how we can minimize or exacerbate that risk based on the choices we make. This is a 3-hour integrated lecture and lab that is highly student-centered through inquiry investigations. Teaching at a community college already assures a highly diverse population demographically, but also age, preparation, and lived experiences. The quarter I implemented this module, I had an incredibly diverse set of learners including two visually impaired students. Throughout the activity, students were highly engaged and the classroom community became much stronger as students interacted outside of their regular groups. In addition, with slight modifications, both students who were visually impaired were still able to successfully complete the module and fully participate.
Communities

Southwest Section, Geo2YC: The Two-Year College Division, Geoscience Education Research Division, Teacher Education Division
July 2022 Earth Educators' Rendezvous 2017 Attendees
July 2017 Earth Educators Rendezvous 2015
July 2015 Monitoring Volcanoes and Communicating Risks Interest Group
NAGT Webinar Series Interest
Education Icon
Climate of Change Interest Group
Geo2YC Community
ICON Education Interest List
Teaching Geoscience Online
GETSI Community
CUREnet Email Subscribers
CUREnet Newsletters
NAGT All
Teach the Earth
NextGen-WA: Organizational Change and Collaboration Working Group
SAGE 2YC Oregon Team Email Discussion List
SAGE Musings
RTOP Observers
Workshop Leader (6 workshops)
Workshop Participant (23 workshops)
December 2019 SAGE 2YC 2019 PNW Teams Workshop
November 2019 SAGE 2YC Helping Students Thrive Workshop GSA 2017
October 2017