Heather Macdonald
Geology
William & Mary
Project Leader
On the Cutting Edge part of Cutting Edge
The On the Cutting Edge Professional Development Program for Geoscience Faculty brings together workshops, websites, and research activities to support highest quality undergraduate geoscience education.
Website Content Contributions
Activities (3)
Book Review of a Popular Science Book part of Introductory Courses:Activities
Students select a popular science book to read and then write a book review and give a short oral book review to their classmates.
Describe and Interpret Images: Folded Strata part of Starting Point-Teaching Entry Level Geoscience:Interactive Lectures:Examples
In class, have students make a simple sketch of an outcrop shown in a slide (or computer projection) then discuss possible interpretations. -
Rivers: Short In-class Activity part of Starting Point-Teaching Entry Level Geoscience:Interactive Lectures:Examples
Images of the James River in Virginia, including one at flood stage, and of potholes, all of which can be used to have the students make observations, estimates, and interpretations. -
Teaching Method Module (1)
Interactive Lectures part of Starting Point-Teaching Entry Level Geoscience:Interactive Lectures
An educational resource page on interactive lectures in geoscience education, detailing strategies like think-pair-share and demonstrations to actively engage students during lectures, with implementation guidance, examples, and references for instructors seeking to enhance traditional lecture formats.
Essays (2)
Preparing the College of William & Mary's Geology Students for Careers part of Integrate:Workshops and Webinars:Geoscience and the 21st Century Workforce:Essays
This webpage is an educational essay detailing how the College of William & Mary's geology program prepares students for diverse careers through curriculum design, career exploration opportunities, skill development, and job search support, emphasizing workforce readiness in the geosciences.
2YC Faculty Resources in the Geosciences part of Supporting Community College Faculty Across the Disciplines:Fall 2012 Workshop:Essays
This content is a workshop essay page from the SERC website, authored by Heather Macdonald, detailing effective NSF-funded geoscience education initiatives like "On the Cutting Edge" and "The Math You Need," and proposing professional development webinars and regional networks to better support two-year college geoscience faculty.
Conference Presentations (10)
Looking Back and Looking Forward: 10 Years of Earth Educators' Rendezvous part of Earth Educators Rendezvous:Previous Rendezvous:Rendezvous 2024:Program:Poster Sessions:Monday Poster Session
2024 marks the 10th year of the Earth Educators' Rendezvous. This presentation aims to highlight the history of the Rendezvous program, from its inception as part of the On the Cutting Edge and InTeGrate ...
Other Contributions (17)
Department of Geology at the College of William & Mary part of Integrate:Workshops and Webinars:Geoscience and the 21st Century Workforce:Programs
This webpage is a program description profile detailing the geology curriculum at the College of William & Mary, covering program design, learning goals, assessment methods, course sequencing, alumni career outcomes, and student support features within a liberal arts context.
Communities
Eastern Section, Geo2YC: The Two-Year College Division, Geoscience Education Research Division, Teacher Education Division
3 activities reviewed
July 2018 Earth Educators Rendezvous 2017
July 2017 Earth Educators Rendezvous 2016
July 2016 Earth Educators Rendezvous 2015
July 2015 Conference ChairAdvocacy Interest Group
ASCN Member
CE National Geoscience Teaching Practices Survey Research Team
Integrate/GETSI 2023 Survey
NAGT All
NAGT Past Presidents
RTOP Observers
PISAGE 2YC Cohort 2 Change Agents
SAGE 2YC Cohort 3
SAGE 2YC Cohort 3 Extension Participants
Teach the Earth
Environmental Justice and Freshwater Resources Interest Group
NAGT Webinar Series Interest
Geo2YC Community
Teaching Geoscience Online
Workshop Leader (58 workshops)
April 2023Strengthening Engagement between Disciplinary Societies and Community Colleges
January 2022AGU 2019: Inclusive and Effective College Science Classrooms
December 2019
Workshop Participant (13 workshops)
July 2017 Geo Ed Research -Rendezvous15
July 2015 2013 AGU Heads and Chairs Workshop
December 2013
Webinar Leader (9 webinars)
July 2015SAGE Webinar November 21 2014
November 2014SAGE Webinar November 14 2014
November 2014






