SAGE Musings: Developing Students' Science Identity

Several studies show that science identity influences science persistence. How would we describe a person who has a strong science identity? Carlone & Johnson (2007) indicate that three interrelated dimensions are the keys to identifying as a scientist: competence, performance, and recognition. A competent student demonstrates meaningful knowledge and understanding of science content and is motivated to understand the world scientifically. This leads to performance: she uses scientific tools, is fluent with scientific language, and knows how to interact in various formal and informal scientific settings. She recognizes herself, and gets recognized by others, as a ''science person.'' More

SAGE Musings: Preparing Students for the Geoscience Workforce

Today's topic is preparing students for the geoscience workforce. But what does that actually mean? Preparing students for the workforce in Texas is different from preparing students for the workforce in Oregon or Florida. And preparing students to join the workforce with an Associate's degree is different from laying the groundwork for students to join the workforce after they earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral degree. More

SAGE Musings: Involving Students in Authentic Research

As you know, there are three strands to our project: supporting the academic success of all students, facilitating students' professional pathways in the geosciences, and broadening participation in STEM. One activity that supports all three of these strands is involving students in authentic research experiences. That's why John has compiled a rich set of resources about research with 2YC students on the SAGE 2YC website: http://serc.carleton.edu/sage2yc/undergrad_research/index.html. More

SAGE Musings: Microvalidation

One of the most interesting talks I heard this year was by Becky Packard, of Mt. Holyoke College, at the Earth Educators' Rendezvous. If you weren't there, you can see her slides and reference list: http://serc.carleton.edu/earth_rendezvous/2016/program/plenary_talks/plenary_wednesday.html.

What was so powerful about her talk, for me, was her emphasis on "microvalidations," the counterpart to microaggressions. Research has shown that a student's sense of belonging is a strong predictor of persistence in STEM. When a student feels that he or she belongs in geoscience, he or she is more likely to work to overcome whatever obstacles develop. Becky's key point is simply that each of us has the power to help students feel a sense of belonging by looking for opportunities, in our day-to-day interactions with students, to offer them microvalidations. More

SAGE Musings: Recruiting Students into the Geosciences

Facilitating student pathways into geoscience careers begins with enrollment in geoscience courses, and continues with recruiting those students into geoscience programs. What recruitment strategies work? The Building Strong Geoscience Departments project gathered strategies from faculty across the country and compiled them on this web page: http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/departments/recruiting/index.html. More

SAGE Musings: Last Day of Class

As the summer approaches, I'm wondering about what you do on the last day of classes. Is it business as usual? Preparation for the final exam, if you have one? Do you use it as an opportunity for students to reflect on what they've learned? Do you describe what they could do if they choose to pursue a degree in geoscience? Or perhaps lead a discussion about how geoscience relates to societal or global challenges? More

SAGE Musings: Geoscience Careers

Today's message is about presenting students with information about geoscience careers. Although most of our students won't pursue careers in the geosciences, I think we do them a disservice if we don't let them know about the wide range of geoscience careers that exist, and the opportunities that these careers present. That said, I think that the variety of career options is one of the things that makes it challenging to inform students about geoscience careers. Where do you start? More