Jill Karsten


Program Director, GEO Diversity and Education

Geosciences


National Science Foundation

4201 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22230

Phone:
703.292.8500

FAX:
703.292.9042



What are, to you, the key issues in creating learning resources that support your teaching style and your student's learning styles?

- need for high quality resources that are scientifically accurate and engaging.
- need for resources that appeal to all communities, including underrepresented groups.

What is your vision for the "textbook" of the future and what impediments do you see to realizing that vision?

I haven't given this subject much thought yet, and as I am not a classroom teacher, I am likely naive about the constraints. However, it makes sense to me to migrate existing and new information into modular formats that can be delivered seamlessly through a variety of digital, audio, and print media (i.e., plug and play through your Ipod, your computer desktop or PDA, or printed). What will be critical is the backbone for this content delivery - what do people really need to know and how will the quality of the content be evaluated/confirmed?

I see the textbook industry and the textbook adoption process at the state level as being a huge obstacle. People don't like change, and if the grassroots support for utilizing a non-paper textbook is not there, then it may be hard to develop a large demand for innovative delivery mechanisms.

Describe briefly any research you have undertaken on teaching or learning.

Not relevant.

Have you created publicly accessible learning resources?

Not relevant.

How would you like to contribute to the workshop?

Mostly as an observor. The recommendations that come out of this workshop will likely have implications for some of the projects that I will be funding in the future.

What would you like to take away from the workshop?

Insight into what is feasible.