Site Guide: Teaching with Current Research and Data

General Collections

Teaching with Data from Pedagogy in Action - This is the first page in a module about teaching with data in entry level geoscience classrooms. The module offers background information for teaching with data (what is it, why use it, and how does one use it) as well as a collection of activity examples one can use in their classroom.

Teaching with Data Simulations from Pedagogy in Action - Teaching with data simulations means giving students opportunities to simulate data in order to answer a particular research question or solve a statistical problem. This module explains how to use this technique along with with example activities and classroom tips.

Teaching with Data, Simulations, and Models from On the Cutting Edge - Today's geoscience education reaches beyond the traditional teaching tools such as rock samples and topographic maps. With the addition of computers in many geoscience classrooms and laboratories, faculty have unprecedented opportunity to create innovative learning experiences by bringing real-world data sets and models and simulations of geoscience processes into the classroom. This site provides resources to help faculty use data resources effectively and easily, and contains access to teaching materials and tips from the classroom and literature about the supporting pedagogy.
 
Geochemical Instrumentation and Analysis from Integrating Research and Education - The purpose of this project is to supply an on-line tutorial of the analytical techniques commonly used to characterize geological materials. The goal is to help novices (e.g. students, or scientists working out of their field) to become critical consumers and producers of data using the arsenal of mineralogical, petrological, and geochemical analytical techniques available.

Integrating Research and Education - This website contains educational modules for use by teachers, students and researchers. These collections offer numerous ways in which digital library technologies can be used to translate exciting new scientific discoveries into effective instructional practice. Examples include Teaching with the EarthChem database, Exploring the Yellowstone Geoecosystem, and Teaching Mineralogy with Crystal Structure Databases.
 
Teaching with Models from Starting Point - This module covers the technical and pedagogical considerations for how to incorporate modeling activities into introductory geoscience courses, with examples of models for use in the classroom.
Using Data in the Classroom - This is the first page in a module about teaching with data in a variety of geoscience classrooms. The module offers background information for teaching with data, tools and resources for teaching with data, pedagogic resources for teaching with data, and example activities.
 
Using Data in the Classroom - Data Sources and Tools - This is a browsable collection of sites that provide online or downloadable tools for visualizing or manipulating data or datasets that can be used in the classroom.
Direct Measurement Videos are short, high-quality videos of real events that students can use to explore and apply physics concepts. The videos can be used for labs, homework, assessments, or open-ended problems. Several of the videos are paired with classroom-ready activities that integrate videos into the introductory mechanics curriculum. What sets these videos apart from others is that students can measure distances, time, angles, and other variables right from the videos, allowing for a wide variety of quantitative and theoretical exploration.

Topical Teaching with Data Resources
 

Using MARGINS Data in the Classroom - The MARGINS project focuses on plate boundaries and has designed and evaluated teacher-ready mini-lessons for the undergraduate classroom. The decade-long NSF MARGINS program has generated a wealth of data for use in the undergraduate classroom.
 
Teaching with GIS in the Classroom from Pedagogy in Action - This module offers background information about GIS, how it can be used in the classroom, why it is useful in the classroom, and a collection of examples and activities using GIS in the classroom.
 
Teaching Mineralogy with Crystal Structure Databases and Visualization Software from Integrating Research and Education - This page is the first in a series on teaching mineralogy using crystal structure databases and visualization software. This page featuring a list of crystal structure databases may also be useful in a mineralogy course.
 
Teaching with GeoPads from Integrating Research and Education - This site is designed to help teachers and students effectively and efficiently use GeoPads (portable GIS-based mapping and note-taking computers) in field-based instructional and research activities. This site provides practical advice on selecting software and hardware, accessing and formatting data, and designing and implementing instructional activities. In addition, "best instructional practices" in using GeoPads are described, including learning goals, expected outcomes, and assessment strategies.
 
Learning with Computer Simulations from WILSIM: Web-based Interactive Landform Simulation Model - Grand Canyon - This page briefly summarizes research on teaching and learning with computer simulations: what makes a simulation effective, best practices in teaching with simulations, and the pedagogical strengths and challenges in teaching and learning with simulations.

Classroom and Lab Activities

Earth Exploration Toolbook - The Earth Exploration Toolbook is a collection of computer-based Earth science activities. Each activity, or chapter, introduces one or more data sets and an analysis tool that enables users to explore some aspect of the Earth system. There are 25 different chapters, including Investigating Earthquakes with ArcVoyager GIS, Exploring Characteristics of Wetlands, and Is Greenland Melting?

Ideas for Teaching with Ice Core Data - During the 2008 Cutting Edge workshop on teaching climate change using ice core data participants were asked to work in small groups to brainstorm for ideas to bring ice core data into the classroom. These ideas are not fully-formed teaching activities (such as are found in the classroom activities collection), but rather they are outlines that could be developed into fully formed activities.

Ideas for Teaching about Paleoclimate - During the 2010 Cutting Edge workshop on teaching climate change using the geologic record, participants were asked to work in small groups to brainstorm for ideas to bring paleoclimate data into the classroom. These ideas are not fully-formed teaching activities (such as are found in the classroom activities collection), but rather they are outlines that could be developed into fully formed activities.

Ideas for Teaching about Large Lakes and Climate - During the 2012 Cutting Edge workshop Teaching Climate Change: Insight from Large Lakes, participants learned about lake sediment cores, geomorphology of former lake shores, and impacts of a warming climate on the Great Lakes. They were asked to work in small groups to brainstorm for ideas to bring this science into the classroom. These ideas are not fully-formed teaching activities (such as are found in the classroom activities collection), but rather they are outlines that could be developed into fully formed activities.
 

Using Data Sheets Collection - A DataSheet concisely describes a particular scientific data set in a way that is useful to educators interested in teaching with the data set. DataSheets highlight the connections between data sets and specific topics in science; they explicate how to acquire the data and include (when available) links to classroom activities that use the data. This site provides a browsable collection of classroom and lab activities and assignments that use Datasheets.
 
Teaching Quantitative Skills - Lab and Classroom Activities - This is a browsable collection of example activities and assignments that use data to teach quantitative skills.
 
Earth Labs for Educators - The EarthLabs project provides a national model for rigorous, engaging Earth and environmental lab science courses. The four units in this project illustrate a sequence for learning science concepts through data analysis activities, satellite imagery and computer visualizations, and hands-on experiments that illustrate processes of our Earth system. The units and the activities they contain may be taught in sequence or can stand alone.
 
Examples of Using Data to Teach Earth Processes - This is a browsable collection of activities from a workshop held in 2003. The collection contains examples contributed by scientists and faculty of ways in which exploring or collecting data can be used to engage students in learning geoscience. Each example includes a description of the activity, its learning goals, the context in which it is used, information on the needed data, tools, and activities and suggestions for evaluation.

Geochemical and Geophysical Instrumentation, Analysis, and Facilities

Geochemical Instrumentation and Analysis - This series of pages provides information about common geochemical instrumentation and techniques, including what it is, fundamental principles, how it works, applications, strengths and limitations, sample preparation, data collection, results, and preparation, and if available, literature and teaching activities/resources. Instruments and techniques include x-ray crystallography, electron microbeam, elemental analysis, mass spectrometers, micro-imaging instruments, surface and other spectroscopies.

Petrology Analytical Instrument Database - Useful for researchers, lab managers, instructors and students looking to gain access to analytical instruments such as SEM, electron microbeam, x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescence and more. Visitors can bowse the list of entries to find specific instrumentation at a variety of facilities. Click on each record to see a complete description of the registered instruments and facilities. You can also add your instrument or facility to the database.

Geophysical Analytical Instrument Database - Useful to researchers, lab managers, instructors and students who use or need access to geophysical instrumentationsuch as those related to seismic reflection, seismic refraction, ground penetrating rada, geodetics, field magnetometers, and gravimeters. Click on each record to see a complete description of the registered instruments and facilities. You can also add your geophysical instrument to the database.