Registration open for Earth Science Teachers Workshop
Registration is now open for this year’s Earth Science Teachers workshop, an annual event sponsored and hosted by the Department of Earth Sciences. The Workshop will occur on Wednesday, April 28th. This year’s theme relates fundamental processes within larger Earth systems. The full announcement follows below.
Earth Science Teachers Workshop: Fundamentals, systems, and cross-cutting concepts
Chris Gerbi and Erik daSilva
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Maine
Bryand Global Sciences Center
Teaching the Earth Sciences presents many challenges, one of which is identifying fundamental processes within complex systems while still helping students recognize the interrelationships within the system as a whole. For this year’s workshop, we will explore that theme through three different perspectives – Earth history, rain and runoff, and the geographic influence on climate. For each component, we will first perform or present a model exercise, then have either break-out groups or a plenary discussion about the exercise and the related scientific and pedagogical concepts. Discussion topics may include teaching the human impact on the environment, teaching large and small scales (time and geography), the value of Earth history, the value of incorporating technology, spatial reasoning and related cognitive development, and teaching cross-cutting concepts. In addition, Erik daSilva will present the results of his Masters of Science in Teaching research related to student learning of the influence of geography on climate.
The workshop will run from 9:00-3:00, with coffee and registration starting at 8:30. We will provide morning and afternoon coffee breaks and lunch. Please dress for outside activities. Over the lunch break, you will have the opportunity to tour several laboratories, with faculty and graduate students on hand to explain their equipment and research projects. We will have available a form for 0.5 CEU credits (fee of $10.00).
This year, we also encourage you to invite a student who shows a keen interest in Earth Sciences to accompany you. We hope students will be involved in the discussions and provide their perspectives on beneficial learning techniques and on the lessons themselves. We have a capacity of 50 people for the workshop, so please register early if you wish to guarantee a spot. If you have any questions, please direct them to Chris Gerbi at 581-2153 or gerbi@umit.maine.edu. Click here for the registration form.