Research on Learning

• 4th International Conference on Geoscience Education taking place in Calgary in August 2003 offers a workshop and multiple sessions on research on learning in the geosciences.


• NSF/Johnson Foundation workshop Bringing Research on Learning to the Geosciences:
  In July, 2002 twenty leaders from geoscience education, learning science, and disciplinary education research came together to develop plans for increasing research on learning in the geosciences and its use in geoscience education. A report (Acrobat (PDF) 2.1MB Jul22 03) on this workshop was presented in poster form at the Fall 2002 Meeting of the American Geophysical Union. Authored by Dave Mogk, Cathy Manduca, and Neil Stillings.


• GSA Pardee Symposium: Toward a Better Understanding of the Complicated Earth: Insights from Geologic Research, Education, and Cognitive Science
  Talks from this session at the Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, convened by Cathy Manduca (Carleton College) and Dave Mogk (Montana State University) addressed how we can increase our ability to learn about Earth by better understanding the learning process. Discussion focussed on maps, visualizations, and models as learning tools for researchers and students.
  
  
• Heather Macdonald of William and Mary presented a talk entitled "How We Learn" at the Cutting Edge workshop Designing Effective & Innovative Courses in the Geosciences. Coauthored with Cathy Manduca, the talk touches on the relevance of learning research, memory, and approaches to quantitative questions.
  
  
• Research on Learning was an integral part of the Using Global Data Sets in Teaching Earth Processes Cutting Edge workshop. Held one day prior to the Fall 2002 AGU meeting, the workshop featured presentations given by leaders in the fields of learning science and geoscience education, including Danny Edelson, Michelle Hall-Wallace, Jim Slotta, and Mike Taber.