Describes an activity in which students are asked to write an essay on the Crustal Displacement hypothesis, an hypothesis that is inconsistent with the accepted understanding of crustal and mantle processes. The assignment is useful because it forces students to solidify their understanding of plate tectonics by applying their knowledge in a new…

Describes a web-based, inquiry-oriented activity that enables students to examine long-term global climate change. Supports instruction in other topics such as population growth. (Contains 34 references.) (DDR)

Points out that course planning for a student-learning course must address cooperative learning and other strategies as well as how to integrate the instructional strategies. (Contains 23 references.) (DDR)

Reports on the testing of two approaches to enhance learning in geological field trips through the use of technology. One approach used an advanced flight simulator and the other used digital cameras and computers. (Contains 18 references.) (DDR)

Details the use of online homework assignments designed to more actively engage students in a general education geoscience course. Concludes that students come to class better prepared and that both groups benefit from a problem-based learning approach. (Contains 17 references.) (DDR)

Explains how basic mapping skills are taught in a large lab space using various arrangements of books to portray structural information. Reports an increase in student confidence and ability to synthesize data during field work. (DDR)

Reviews copious stream tables and provides a watershed approach to stream table exercises. Results suggest that this approach to learning the concepts of fluvial geomorphology is effective. (Contains 39 references.) (DDR)

Details the use of tabletop models that demonstrate concepts in direct current electrical resistivity, self-potential, and electromagnetic geophysical models. Explains how data profiles of the models are obtained. (DDR)

Analyzes how textbooks define and describe an earthquake focus or hypocenter. Provides examples from textbooks that reflect an absence of precision in words and diagrams that can foster misconceptions. Discusses the origin of the problems. (DDR)

Provides a list of web sites that pertain to rivers that are practical, well organized, and have authentic content. (DDR)

Suggests an integrated approach to make science teaching and learning more effective, interesting and motivating to students. Argues that team teaching by physics and geology departments enables students to learn concepts and principles of physics and apply them to solve geological problems facing the local community. Reports that a typical…

Students in a laboratory techniques course for preservice teachers were engaged in an activity that was designed to assess their skills in identifying geologic materials and model a situation that might be encountered by new teachers. Related activities were designed to give the preservice teachers practical experience in obtaining geologic…

Part of a series which aims to promote the use of mathematics in the undergraduate geosciences curriculum. Focuses on mathematical set theory and classification of rocks. (Author/MM)

Undergraduate science majors need practice in critical thinking, quantitative analysis, and judging whether their calculated answers are physically reasonable. Develops exercises using handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers. Reinforces students' abilities to think quantitatively, make realistic "back of the envelope" assumptions, and…

Uses earthquakes to teach about the importance of collecting enough data and simplifying and visualizing them appropriately. Leads students relatively easily into a sophisticated yet enjoyable examination of large databases and creating hypotheses to explain the patterns that they unearth. (Author/NB)