Abstract deadline is in 10 days! Join hundreds of colleagues this summer at the Earth Educators' Rendezvous - July 16-20 in Lawrence, KS

Initial Publication Date: February 19, 2018

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Dear Colleagues:

If you have ever thought it would be beneficial to spend time thinking and talking about teaching and learning with like-minded colleagues, we have the summer meeting for you. We would like to invite you to attend the fourth annual Earth Educators' Rendezvous to be held at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, from July 16-20, 2018. The Rendezvous was created as a week-long event to bring together hundreds of researchers and practitioners working in all aspects of undergraduate and K-12 Earth education. Each day at the Rendezvous will feature some combination of workshops, contributed talks and posters, round table discussions, plenary sessions, and working groups discussing a rich mix of topics. These sessions will address a range of themes, including:

  • Providing instructors with examples of instructional strategies that have been shown to improve student learning;
  • Addressing teaching challenges specific to particular settings (e.g., large classes, labs), topics (e.g., sustainability, atmospheric science), or skills (e.g., spatial reasoning);
  • Developing students' competency in a range of geoscientific tasks that involve higher order skills such as systems thinking, data analysis and quantitative skills;
  • Supporting instructors and administrators in creating lessons and programming to increase the number and diversity of students who learn about Earth;
  • Helping graduate students and post-docs prepare for an academic career in Earth-related disciplines;
  • Collaborating with colleagues across the disciplines to situate learning about Earth in a societal context;
  • Supporting current and future K-12 teachers in STEM exploration;
  • Pursuing education research that supports our ability to address these challenges.

We welcome participation by all who are interested in teaching and learning about the Earth, including faculty and administrators from two-year and four-year colleges and universities, teachers of high school Earth science, faculty in all disciplines who teach about some aspect of the Earth or would like to incorporate such teaching in future classes, graduate students and post-docs interested in these topics, and program leaders in geoscience, environmental science, environmental studies, sustainability, or other programs with an Earth component. All participants are invited to submit an abstract to be considered for inclusion in the contributed program of short presentations and posters. A limited number of need-based stipends will be available to help defray travel and registration costs.

Follow these links to learn more about Rendezvous registration (http://serc.carleton.edu/earth_rendezvous/2018/registration.html), the program of events (http://serc.carleton.edu/earth_rendezvous/2018/program/index.html), and how to submit an abstract to the contributed program (due March 1) (http://serc.carleton.edu/earth_rendezvous/2018/program/contributed_program.html).

Registration is now open and fees are reduced for all NAGT members. On any day, participants can attend a morning workshop and either afternoon mini-workshops or round table discussions, or can choose between multiple sessions featuring teaching demonstrations and/or contributed talks.

Lastly, we would like to encourage the use of the Rendezvous as a venue for working group meetings that capitalize on the opportunity to learn from colleagues at the Rendezvous. Working group members will receive a daily discount for group members and access to a meeting room. Working group applications are due before March 1. For more details visit: http://serc.carleton.edu/earth_rendezvous/2018/working_group.html

We hope you will find the program to be engaging and flexible.

We hope to see you in Lawrence this summer!

Important Dates