Presents a weather forecasting activity in which students experience the original view and style of weather forecasting. (YDS)

Explains how to demonstrate to students that the relative dating of rock layers is redundant. Uses two column diagrams to simulate stratigraphic sequences from two different geological time scales and asks students to complete the time scale. (YDS)

Explains attending a public meeting as an assignment in order to understand how environmental policy is made at local levels of government. (YDS)

Recommends the use of Hollywood products to teach about geological phenomena and lists some recent blockbuster hits that include some features of geology. (YDS)

Identifies new skills that are required for geoscience students to prepare more effectively for careers in the oil industry and help geoscience departments upgrade their curricula. Presents data gathered from 29 oil companies based in Britain surveying 382,000 employees, and assesses more than 40 geological and geographical skills. (Author/YDS)

Describes a capstone course specifically designed for Environmental Geoscience majors that is a project-based course stressing small-group identification, analysis, and solution of real-world geo-environmental problems on a local scale. Prepares students for the immediate demands of post-college employment as well as developing lifelong learning…

Examines combined departments of geology and geography, a structure present at numerous 4-year institutions, using a survey of department chairs and heads. Explores the reasons behind the combined departments; advantages, challenges, and disadvantages of the structure; and steps taken by chairs to promote the success of their multidisciplinary…

Discusses the benefits of research partnerships between scientists and K-16 students. Regards the partnerships as effective vehicles for teaching scientific logic, processes, and content by integrating inquiry-based educational approaches with innovative research questions. Reviews integrated research and education through geoscience partnerships.…

Reports findings of the first year of a three-year summer geoscience program in which undergraduates and high school teachers work with a consortium of faculty. Examines the effects of the program on the participants' interests in research, career plans, and attitude toward science. Discusses implications for providing authentic research…

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"…

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)

Undergraduate students compared Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) estimates of storm total precipitation to measurements from a network of 20 rain gauges. Student researchers gained valuable experience in field data collection, global positioning systems (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS), Internet data access and downloading,…

Describes demonstrations and activities developed by the Geology/Geography Department at Eastern Illinois University for undergraduate students to present in local K-12 classrooms. The presentations aid students in developing inquiry skills. Concludes that teachers found the program useful. (Author/NB)

At large universities, optional seminars that dovetail with large-enrollment courses can provide meaningful small-class experiences for students who want them. Describes a course offered in conjunction with a large-enrollment Geology of the National Parks course that allows in-depth discussion of course materials and related topics as well as…

Explores how three assistant professors in geology departments assess college students' understanding of the nature of science (NOS). Discusses the usefulness of both qualitative and quantitative data in assessment and the ways in which assessment can impact teaching reforms. (Author/NB)