Browse Key Resources
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Teaching Materials
Explore thousands of community-contributed teaching activities. Peer reviewed collections include:
- The On the Cutting Edge Exemplary Reviewed Activity Collection
Many of the themes below include smaller collections of activities specifically focused on that theme.
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Workshops
Upcoming Workshops, Webinars and Events including the Earth Educator's Rendezvous
Also, you can browse the programs and view webinar recordings from 100's of Past Events
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Intro Geo
Key Resources:
- Starting Point: Teaching Introductory Geoscience
- Teaching Introductory Geoscience Courses from On the Cutting Edge
- Supporting and Advancing Geoscience Education at Two-year Colleges (SAGE 2YC)
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Career Development
Key Resources:
- Early Career Geoscience Faculty from On the Cutting Edge
- Preparing for an Academic Career in the Geosciences from On the Cutting Edge
- Effective Strategies for Undergraduate Geoscience Teaching from On the Cutting Edge
- The National Institute for Faculty Equity
or Search
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Diversity
Key Resources:
- Broaden Participation in the Geosciences
- Increase the Diversity of your Graduates from InTeGrate
- Broaden Participation in the Geosciences and STEM from SAGE 2YC
- Geo-Needs: Stakeholder Needs Assessment for Broadening Participation in the Geoscience Workforce
or Search
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K12
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Two-Year Colleges
Key Resources:
- Supporting and Advancing Geoscience Education at Two-year Colleges (SAGE 2YC)
- Geoscience at Two-year Colleges
- Geo2YC: The Two-Year College Division from NAGT
- Starting Point: Teaching Introductory Geoscience
- Teaching Introductory Geoscience Courses from On the Cutting Edge
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Departments
Search Multiple Earth Education Websites
Explore Themes
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Course Topics
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Atmospheric Science
Key Resources:
- Teaching Atmospheric Science site from On the Cutting Edge
- Climate and Energy materials Selected and Reviewed by CLEAN
- Climate Literacies, from CLEAN, provide information and resources for incorporating specific aspects of atmospheric science as it relates to climate change into the classroom.
- Promising Pedagogical Approaches to Teaching about Complex Systems
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Biogeoscience
Key Resources:
- Microbial Life Educational Resources
- Early Earth from On the Cutting Edge
- Environmental Sampling Methods from Microbial Life Educational Resources
- Biogeochemical Methods from Microbial Life Educational Resources
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or Search
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Ecology
Key Resources:
- Earth Exploration Toolbook Biology Chapters
- Microbial Life - Educational Resources
- Teaching about Food From the InTeGrate project
- Teaching about Water From the InTeGrate project
- Environmental Sampling Methods from Microbial Life Educational Resources
- Biogeochemical Methods from Microbial Life Educational Resources
or Search
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Environmental Geology
Key Resources:
- Teaching Environmental Geology from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching Environmental Issues and the Affective Domain from On the Cutting Edge
- Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN)
- The InTeGrate Project
- Environmental Geology in the Field from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching about Hazards from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching about Energy from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching about Climate Change from On the Cutting Edge
- Environmental Sampling Methods from Microbial Life Educational Resources
- Biogeochemical Methods from Microbial Life Educational Resources
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Environmental Science
Key Resources:
- The InTeGrate Project
- Teaching Environmental Issues and the Affective Domain from On the Cutting Edge
- Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN)
- Curriculum for the Bioregion
- Environmental Sampling Methods from Microbial Life Educational Resources
- Biogeochemical Methods from Microbial Life Educational Resources
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Geochemistry
Geochemistry resources from Teach the Earth include:
- Teaching Geochemistry from On the Cutting Edge
- Geochemical Instrumentation and Analysis from Integrating Research and Education
- Teaching with Geochemical Data from On the Cutting Edge
- Registry of Analytical Geochemical Equipment from On the Cutting Edge
- Biogeochemical Methods from Microbial Life Educational Resources
- Teaching Phase Equilibria from Integrating Research and Education
or Search
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Geodesy
Key Resources:
- Teaching Geodesy from On the Cutting Edge
- GEodesy Tools for Societal Issues Project (GETSI)
or Search
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Geomorphology
Key Resources:
- Teaching About Geomorphology from On the Cutting Edge
- Geomorphology vignettes from On the Cutting Edge
- River Geomorphology Videos
- Geophysical Instrument Registry from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching with Google Earth from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching with GIS in the Geosciences from On the Cutting Edge
or Search
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Geophysics
Key Resources:
- Teaching About Geophysics from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching Geodesy from On the Cutting Edge
- EarthScope in the Northern Rockies Workshop
- MARGINS data in the classroom
- Teaching Geophysics in the Field from On the Cutting Edge
- Geophysical Instrument Registry from On the Cutting Edge
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GIS/Remote Sensing
Key Resources:
- Teaching with GIS in the Geosciences from Starting Point: Teaching Introductory Geoscience.
- Teaching GIS and Remote Sensing from On the Cutting Edge.
- Teaching with GeoPads from Integrating Research and Education.
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Hydrology/Hydrogeology
Key Resources:
- Teaching Hydrogeology from On the Cutting Edge
- Data and Model Driven Hydrology Education
- Teaching about Water from InTeGrate
- Teaching Hydrogeology in the Field from On the Cutting Edge
- A Civil Action - The Woburn Toxic Trial
- Community Collection of Sustainability Teaching Materials related to water and watersheds from InTeGrate
or Search
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Mineralogy
Key Resources:
- Teaching Mineralogy from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching with Geochemical Data from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching Symmetry Using Kinesthetic Learning–An Exercise Using "Old Time" Dances from On the Cutting Edge
- Minerals, Inclusions and Volcanic Processes from On the Cutting Edge
- Impacts of Resource Development on Native American Lands from Integrating Research and Education
- Registry of Analytical Geochemical Equipment from On the Cutting Edge
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Oceanography
Key Resources:
- Teaching Oceanography from On the Cutting Edge.
- Oceanography Visualization Collections from On the Cutting Edge.
- Red Tide from Microbial Life Resources.
- The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone from Microbial Life Resources.
- Exploring Mote Marine Laboratory Oceanography Data in the Classroom from Using Data in the Classroom.
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Paleontology
Key Resources:
- Teaching Paleontology from On the Cutting Edge
- Advances in Paleontology from Integrating Research and Education
- All Things Cretaceous from Integrating Research and Education
- Teaching about Rates and Time
- Using an Earth History Approach from Starting Point
- Early Earth from On the Cutting Edge
or Search
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Petrology
Key Resources:
- Teaching Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching Phase Equilibria from Integrating Research and Education
- Teaching with Geochemical Data from On the Cutting Edge
- Registry of Analytical Geochemical Equipment from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching Geochemistry from On the Cutting Edge
- Geochemical Instrumentation and Analysis from Integrating Research and Education
or search
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Planetary Science
Key Resources:
- Discoveries from Mars from On the Cutting Edge
- Mars for Earthlings: Integrating Introductory Geology with Mars Planetary Data
- Early Earth
- Eyes in the Sky II project
- DIG Blueprints
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Sedimentary Geology
Key Resources:
- Teaching Sedimentary Gelogy from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching about Rates and Time from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching Paletontology from On the Cutting Edge
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Soil
Key Resources:
- Soils, Systems, and Society module from InTeGrate
- A Growing Concern: Sustaining Soil Resources through Local Decision Making module from InTeGrate
- Curriculum for the Bioregion project
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Structural Geology
Key Resources:
- Teaching Structural Geology from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching with GeoPads from Integrating Research and Education
- Geophysical Instrument Database from On the Cutting Edge
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Incorporating Societal Issues
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Climate Change
Key Resources
- Climate and Energy materials Selected and Reviewed by CLEAN
- Teaching Climate Change site from On the Cutting Edge
- Hurricane - Climate Change Connection
- Paleoclimatology and Climate Proxies
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Complex Systems
Key Resources:
- Teaching About Complex Systems in the Geosciences from On the Cutting Edge
- Teach Systems Thinking from InTeGrate
- Resources for teaching about climate using data and models from On the Cutting Edge
- Using computer models to teach complex systems, from On the Cutting Edge
- Combining an inquiry-based approach with multiple representations of complex systems, from On the Cutting Edge
- Assessing student understanding of complex systems, from On the Cutting Edge
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Energy
Key Resources:
- Teaching about Energy in Geoscience Courses from On the Cutting Edge.
- Teach Energy Science from CLEAN.
- Teaching about Energy from InTeGrate.
- Energy Visualizations Collections from On the Cutting Edge.
- Hazards: Oil Spills from On the Cutting Edge.
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Ethics and Environmental Justice
Key Resources:
- Teaching Geoethics Across the Curriculum
- Geoethics in the Context of Sustainability from InTeGrate
- Environmental Justice in the Context of Sustainability from InTeGrate
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Geology and Health
Key Resources:
- Geology and Human Health from on the Cutting Edge
- Science in the Courtroom: The Woburn Toxic Trial
- Environmental Justice and Water Resources from InTeGrate
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Hazards
Hazards resources from Teach the Earth include:
- Teaching about Hazards in the Geosciences from On the Cutting Edge
- Natural Hazards and Risks: Hurricanes from InTeGrate.
- Map Your Hazards! Assessing Hazards, Vulnerability, and Risk from InTeGrate.
- Hurricanes from EarthLabs.
- The Hurricane-Climate Change Connection from On the Cutting Edge.
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Public Policy
Key Resources:
- Teaching Public Policy in the Earth Sciences from On the Cutting Edge
- Science in the Courtroom: The Woburn Toxic Trial
- Environmental Justice and Freshwater Resources from InTeGrate
or Search -
Sustainability
Key Resources:
- InTeGrate: Interdisciplinary Teaching about Earth for a Sustainable Future
- Curriculum for the Bioregion
- Sustainability Improves Student Learning (SISL)
- Teaching about Energy using Quantitative Skills from On the Cutting Edge
- Carbon Footprint Collection from On the Cutting Edge
or Search
Strengthening Your Department
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Career Development
Key Resources:
- Early Career Geoscience Faculty from On the Cutting Edge
- Preparing for an Academic Career in the Geosciences from On the Cutting Edge
- Effective Strategies for Undergraduate Geoscience Teaching from On the Cutting Edge
- The National Institute for Faculty Equity
or Search
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Diversity
Key Resources:
- Broaden Participation in the Geosciences
- Increase the Diversity of your Graduates from InTeGrate
- Broaden Participation in the Geosciences and STEM from SAGE 2YC
- Geo-Needs: Stakeholder Needs Assessment for Broadening Participation in the Geoscience Workforce
or Search
- Strengthening Departments
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Student Recruitment
Student Recruitment resources from Teach the Earth include:
- Student Recruitment from Building Strong geoscience Departments
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Teacher Preparation
Key Resources:
- Preparing Teachers to Teach Earth Science
- Prepare Future Teachers from InTeGrate
- Teacher Education Division from NAGT
- K12 Science Portal
- Teacher Preparation Course Material
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Teaching Topics
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Biocomplexity
Key Resources:
- Teaching Biocomplexity in the Geosciences from On the Cutting Edge
- Microbial Life Education Resources
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or Search
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Deep Earth
Key Resources:
- Understanding the Deep Earth from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching Geophysics from On the Cutting Edge
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Early Earth
Early Earth resources from Teach the Earth include:
- Teaching About the Early Earth from On the Cutting Edge
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Earthquakes
Key Resources:
- Hazards: Earthquakes from On the Cutting Edge
- 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami from On the Cutting Edge
- January 2010 Haiti Earthquake from On the Cutting Edge
- 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami from On the Cutting Edge
- Hydraulic Fracturing
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Minerals
Key Resources:
- Teaching Mineralogy from On the Cutting Edge
- Impacts of Resource Development on Native American Lands from Integrating Research and Education
or Search - Plate Tectonics
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Rock Cycle
Key Resources:
- Teaching Sedimentary Geology from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching Petrology from On the Cutting Edge
or Search
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Tsunami
Key Resources:
- Hazards: Tsunami from On the Cutting Edge
- 2011 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami from On the Cutting Edge
- 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami from On the Cutting Edge
or Search
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Volcanoes
Key Resources:
- The Volcano Exploration Project: Using on-line volcano monitoring data in college and university courses from NAGT
- Exploring the Yellowstone Geoecosystem from Integrating Research and Education
- Teaching about Hazards in the Geosciences from On the Cutting Edge
- 2010 Icelandic Volcano Eruption from On the Cutting Edge
- Volcano Visualizations from On the Cutting Edge
or Search
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Water
Key Resources:
- Data and Model Driven Hydrology Education
- Teaching Hydrogeology from On the Cutting Edge
- Climate of Change: Interactions and Feedbacks between Water, Air, and Ice from InTeGrate
- Environmental Justice and Freshwater Resources from InTeGrate
- Interactions between Water, Earth's Surface, and Human Activity from InTeGrate
- Teaching About Hazards in Geoscience: Flooding from On the Cutting Edge
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Weather
Key Resources:
- Natural Hazards and Risk: Hurricanes from InTeGrate
- EarthLabs: Hurricanes
- The Hurricane-Climate Change Connection from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching About Hazards in Geoscience: Tornadoes from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching About Hazards in Geoscience: Hurricanes from On the Cutting Edge
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Teaching Environments
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Intro Geoscience
Key Resources:
- Starting Point: Teaching Introductory Geoscience
- Teaching Introductory Geoscience Courses from On the Cutting Edge
- Supporting and Advancing Geoscience Education at Two-year Colleges (SAGE 2YC)
Join the Community:
or search
- K12
- Online Teaching
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Teaching in the Field
Key Resources:
- Design Successful Student Field Experiences
- Teaching with Online Field Experiences
- Geoscience in the Field from On the Cutting Edge
- Using Field Labs from Starting Point: Teaching Introductory Geoscience
- Teaching in the Field from NAGT
- Teaching with GeoPads from Integrating Research and Education
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Two-Year Colleges
Key Resources:
- Supporting and Advancing Geoscience Education at Two-year Colleges (SAGE 2YC)
- Geoscience at Two-year Colleges
- Geo2YC: The Two-Year College Division from NAGT
- Starting Point: Teaching Introductory Geoscience
- Teaching Introductory Geoscience Courses from On the Cutting Edge
or Search
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Urban Students
Key Resources:
- Urban Students and Urban Issues from On the Cutting Edge
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Enhancing your Teaching
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Affective Domain
Key Resources:
- The Affective Domain in the Classroom from On the Cutting Edge
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Assessment
Key Resources:
- Understanding What our Geoscience Students are Learning: Observing and Assessing from On the Cutting Edge
- Assessment from Starting Point: Teaching Introductory Geoscience
- Assessming Quantitative Reasoning in Student Writing from QuIRK
- Program Assessment from Building Strong Geoscience Departments
- Classroom Observation Project from On the Cutting Edge
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Course Design
Key Resources:
- Designing Effective and Innovative Courses from On the Cutting Edge
- Using an Earth History Approach from Starting Point: Teaching Introductory Geoscience
- Designing a Course to Teach the Process of Science from Pedagogy in Action
- Using an Earth System Approach from Starting Point: Teaching Introductory Geoscience
- Teaching Geoscience Online from On the Cutting Edge
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Data, Simulations, Models
Key Resources:
- Teaching with Data, Simulations, and Models from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching with Data from Pedagogy in Action
- Teaching with data Simulations from Pedagogy in Action
- Teaching with Models from Starting Point: Teaching Introductory Geoscience
- Using Data in the Classroom
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Geophotography
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Google Earth
Key Resources:
- Google Earth for Geoscience Teaching and Research from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching with Google Earth from Starting Point: Teaching Introductory Geoscience
- Teaching GIS and Remote Sensing from On the Cutting Edge
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Metacognition
Key Resources:
- The Role of Metacognition in Learning from On the Cutting Edge
- Metacognition and Self-Regulated Learning from InTeGrate
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NGSS
Key Resources:
- Implementing the Next Generation Science Standards from NAGT
- Teaching Climate and Energy (CLEAN Collection) with the Next Generation Science Standards
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Online Games
Online Games resources from Teach the Earth include:
- Using Online Games and Environments from On the Cutting Edge
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Problem Solving
Key Resources:
- Problem Solving and Problem-based Learning in the Geosciences from on the Cutting Edge
- Faculty-coached, In-class Problem Solving from Pedagogy in Action
- Documented Problem Solving from Pedagogy in Action
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Quantitative Skills
Key Resources:
- Teaching Quantitative Skills in the Geosciences
- Developing Quantitative Reasoning from Pedagogy in Action
- Quantitative Writing from Pedagogy in Action
- The Math You Need, When You Need It
- Kéyah Math Project
- Mathematical and Statistical Models from Starting Point: Teaching Introductory Geoscience
or Search -
Rates and Time
Key Resources:
- Teaching About Rates and Time from On the Cutting Edge
- Geological Time from Synthesis of Research on Thinking and Learning in the Geosciences
- Geologic Time Visualizations from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching About the Early Earth from On the Cutting Edge
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Service Learning
Key Resources:
- Service Learning in the Geosciences from On the Cutting Edge
- Service Learning from Starting Point: Teaching Introductory Geoscience
- Service Learning: Connect Classroom Learning with Societal Issues from InTeGrate
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Spatial Thinking
Key Resources:
- Spatial Thinking Workbook
- GET Spatial Learning Network
- Spatial Thinking in the Geosciences
- Spatial Thinking in Geosciences from Synthesis of Research on Thinking and Learning in the Geosciences
- Spatial Thinking from InTeGrate
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- Teaching Methods
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Teaching with Video
Key Resources:
- Teaching with Videos from On the Cutting Edge
- Climate Education in an Age of Media
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Undergrad Research
Key Resources:
- Undergraduate Research as Teaching Practice from On the Cutting Edge
- Undergraduate Research from Starting Point: Teaching Introductory Geoscience
- Undergraduate Research with 2YC Students from SAGE 2YC
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Visualization
Key Resources:
- Teaching Geoscience with Visualizations from On the Cutting Edge
- Teaching with Visualizations from Starting Point: Teaching Introductory Geoscience
- Collections of Visualizations on Geoscience Topics from On the Cutting Edge
- Crystallography: Visualization Software from Integrating Research and Education
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Featured: from Across the Portal
News & EventsWorkshops, Webinars and More »
Visible Geology teaching activities
Developed by geoscience faculty, these versatile, single-day teaching activities utilize Seequent's Visible Geology web-based application to strengthen students' spatial reasoning and geological analysis skills. Designed for quick integration into homework, lectures, or labs, they help prepare the next generation for the geoscience workforce.
Explore, Share, and Connect with Emriver Educational Resources
A new collaboration between Emriver, maker of high-quality hydrologic models and SERC, your go-to source for pedagogical resources, has launched a dynamic new hub to collect, share, and expand teaching materials related to Emriver flumes and stream tables. Check out the Emriver Educational Resources website!
SERC Authors Co-Lead Study on Widely Adopted, Data-Rich Teaching Resources
Beth Pratt-Sitaula, along with Kristin O'Connell (SERC), Bruce Douglas, Becca Walker, Benjamin Crosby, Ellen Iverson (SERC), and Donna Charlevoix, have published a new paper on the GEodesy Tools for Societal Issues (GETSI) program.
Building Leadership Capacity to Support Two-Year College and Disciplinary Society Collaborations workshop report is published
The final workshop report from the Building Leadership Capacity to Support Two-Year College and Disciplinary Society Collaborations workshop (which took place throughout spring and fall 2025) is now published.
New Polar Literacy Publication in Journal of Geoscience Education
SERC congratulates SERC Director Ellen Iverson and former SERC evaluation specialist Ellen Altermatt on a recent article they co-authored with colleagues from Rutgers in the Journal of Geoscience Education entitled, "Data to the Rescue: Penguins Need Our Help! – An informal STEM learning program."