********************************************************************************************** Announcement - 2008 AGU fall meeting - ED Special sessions on Teaching Introductory Geosciences (ED-08, ED-09) From: Rachel Teasdale <rteasdale@xxxxxxxxxxxx> ********************************************************************************************** Colleagues, We would like to encourage you to consider submitting an abstract for the Fall 2008 AGU meeting to either of the following Education sessions, * ED 09 Teaching Introductory Geoscience in the 21st Century * ED 08 Making Introductory-Level Science Courses Interesting and Relevant - Best Practices Abstracts submitted to either will be combined into one session. Please be aware that AGU allows two abstracts from authors who submit to an Education session. Session description: Introductory geoscience courses are the main venue both for recruiting students into our majors and for educating a much broader audience about the Earth and the process of science. As such, these broad survey courses deserve more attention. Over the past few decades, our understanding of how people learn has improved dramatically. Likewise, the geosciences have expanded rapidly, and now cover a wide variety of research areas, tools, and techniques. It is critical, therefore, that our introductory courses incorporate our best practices from the educational research and give an up-to-date picture of the state of our science. Building on the 2008 Cutting Edge workshop "Teaching Introductory Geoscience in the 21st Century", this session is intended to provide opportunities for the geoscience community to present research about instructional techniques that enhance student learning in introductory geoscience courses. Possible topics include: * successful methods for reaching students in large classes * successful innovations in instructional materials, laboratory and field exercises, including the use of technology * successful innovations in courses and curricula, including incorporating current issues, controversial topics, research projects, service learning, and local environments * research-based approaches to assessment; * successful methods for engaging new student audiences, such as pre-service teachers, and students with special needs, such as English language learners * successful methods for teaching cross-curricular skills such as quantitative literacy, critical thinking, reading, and communication * research on student misconceptions and alternative conceptions * methods for teaching the process of science, including scientific questioning, gathering evidence, formulating and evaluating explanations * working with teaching assistants and multiple instructors, including integrating lecture and lab * and many other possibilities We welcome contributions that describe innovations in introductory courses in all disciplines, including physical and historical geology, geophysics, oceanography, atmospheric and climate science, global change, earth system science, natural hazards, and topical courses. Abstracts are due Sept 10, 2008 and can be submitted at: http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm08/?content=program Conveners: Rachel Teasdale California State University, Chico Department of Geological & Environmental Sciences California State University, Chico Chico, CA, USA 95929-0205 5308985547 rteasdale@xxxxxxxxxxxx Jennifer M. Wenner University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Department of Geology 800 Algoma Boulevard Oshkosh, WI, USA 54901-8649 9204247003 wenner@xxxxxxxxx Anne E. Egger Stanford University Department of Geological & Environmental Sciences 450 Serra Mall, Bldg 320 Stanford, CA, USA 94305-2115 6507240984 annegger@xxxxxxxxxxxx Patricia Cooper School of Ocean & Earth Science & Technology 1680 East-West Rd., POST 802 Honolulu, HI, USA 96822 8089569513 pcooper@xxxxxxxxxx ============================================================== To unsubscribe from the volcano list, send the message: signoff volcano to: listserv@xxxxxxx, or write to: volcano-request@xxxxxxxx To contribute to the volcano list, send your message to: volcano@xxxxxxxx Please do not send attachments. ==============================================================
