Approaches for Supporting Geoscience Student Success at Two-year Colleges

This workshop explores successful strategies for teaching geoscience to all students in the same classroom. At two-year colleges (2YCs) this includes women and men from the very brightest to the least prepared, many whom are first generation in college, a melting pot of cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, many English language learners, military veterans and active-duty service members, students with disabilities, single parents, parolees, retirees, co-enrolled high school students, retraining college graduates, and homeless individuals. Presentations at the workshop summarize the latest research in education and psychology for supporting these subpopulations, both inside and outside of the classroom. This includes information on helping students manage anxiety and improve their quantitative skills. Tips are provided on how to easily and effectively work with diverse subpopulations in a single class. The workshop is sponsored by the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) and, as part of the SAGE 2YC program, is funded by the National Science Foundation.

Registration for this workshop is closed.

Workshop Goals

Explore strategies for effectively teaching all students, including distinct subpopulations

Discuss the implications of current research for supporting student success in geoscience at 2YCs

Document current practices for promoting student success (e.g., activities, instructional approaches, programs, support structures)

Formulate specific actions to improve student success in geoscience courses and programs at participant's institutions

Dates

The workshop begins at 5:00 PM on Friday, May 16 and ends at 4:00 PM on Saturday, May 17. Participants must attend all sessions and register by April 25, 2014.

Expectations

Participants are expected to:

before the workshop -

register by Friday, April 25, 2014
bring a laptop or notebook computer
create a Science Education Resource Center (SERC) account - if you don't already have one; it's quick, easy, and free

during the workshop - participate in discussions, complete an action plan, and fill out an online workshop evaluation
after the workshop - implement your action plan and complete an external evaluation later in the year

Costs

The operational costs of the workshop as well as room, board, and workshop materials are covered by a grant from the NSF Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE-1122660). This grant covers dinner and shared lodging on Friday, May 16, and breakfast and lunch on Saturday, May 17. Breakfast on May 17 is included with the lodging. Participants are expected to pay their own travel costs, including any meals before and after the workshop.

Facilities

The workshop is in the seminar room (Room 1.603) of the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics (UTIG) located in the east end of the ROC / Texas Advanced Computing Center Building (#196) on the J.J. Pickle Research Campus at 10100 Burnet Road in North Austin. Lodging and breakfast is in a North Austin hotel. Additional information is available about workshop logistics.