c Using an Earth History Approach: r u o A Starting Point ... · A Starting Point Module for...
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Using an Earth History Approach: A Starting Point Module for Faculty Rebecca Teed and Cathryn A. Manduca, Carleton College [email protected] Starting Point Module - http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/earthhistory/ Reviews - http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/usesurvey.html "Teaching with an Earth History Approach" is a web site built for faculty developing and teaching historical geology courses, or units within other science courses that deal with changes in the Earth System over time. Not only does Earth history have an initial appeal to students who might not otherwise take geoscience classes, this approach makes it possible, even straightforward, to teach the foundations of Earth science. The module also includes bibliographies, course information, and annotated links lists. Funding from NSF 0226243 Teaching the Big Ideas of Science Organizing Principles for Earth History Evolution • The search for extraterrestrial life depends on understanding the origin of life • The evolutionary history of modern taxa affects their current distributions and their ability to survive environmental change. • Human genetics and DNA extracted from fossils have given us a new perspective on race. Plate Tectonics • Help determine geography and atmosphere • Understanding plate tectonic patterns reduces the danger and destruction earthquakes and volcanoes cause. • Many valuable minerals and useful rocks are the products of intrusive magmas. Climate Change • Dealing with global warming requires knowledge of the causes and effects of past climate change. • Data-model comparisons allow us to test climate models used to predict the future. Some Time Periods to Teach The Geologic Timescale Topics in chronological order. Challenges include teaching: • The huge scale of geologic time. • Change in terms of cause and effect. • Relationships between scientific evidence, the big ideas of science Details (extinctions, eruptions, interesting fossils) History of Geology • Biographies and discoveries • Debates: how science works Development of a Landscape Teach students the geology of a region. • Enable them to work out: The origins of different rock units Their rate of formation Addressing Creationism Age of the Dinosaurs Scientific debates: • The K/T extinction: impact or volcanoes? • Dinosaurs: warm-blooded or cold-blooded? The Precambrian • Big changes in Earth’s systems • New and controversial theories: The first cells The Oxygen Revolution Snowball Earth Young-Earth Creationists in College • ~30-40% of US public university students Why Address Creationism? • Students’ learning is affected by the beliefs they bring into the classroom with them How to Address Creationism • Inquiry-based lab and field work • Teach the nature of science vs. other beliefs • History of evolutionary theory & geology Land, Life, and Climate Change For intro students, you may want to teach the development of Earth’s systems separately. The major scientific themes that enable us to prepare for the future are based on understanding the past. There are many ways to structure a course or unit Science Education Resource Center
Transcript of c Using an Earth History Approach: r u o A Starting Point ... · A Starting Point Module for...
Using an Earth History Approach:A Starting Point Module for FacultyRebecca Teed and Cathryn A. Manduca, Carleton [email protected]
Starting Point Module - http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/earthhistory/Reviews - http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/usesurvey.html
"Teaching with an Earth History Approach" is a web site built for faculty developing and teaching historical geology courses, or units within other sciencecourses that deal with changes in the Earth System over time. Not only does Earth history have an initial appeal to students who might not otherwise takegeoscience classes, this approach makes it possible, even straightforward, to teach the foundations of Earth science. The module also includesbibliographies, course information, and annotated links lists.
contributingtheirresourc
Contributions automaticallyincorporated into the CMS
Funding fromNSF 0226243
Teaching the Big Ideas of Science Organizing Principles for Earth History
Evolution• The search for extraterrestrial life depends onunderstanding the origin of life• The evolutionary history of modern taxa affects theircurrent distributions and their ability to surviveenvironmental change.• Human genetics and DNA extracted from fossils havegiven us a new perspective on race.
Plate Tectonics• Help determine geography and atmosphere• Understanding plate tectonic patterns reduces the dangerand destruction earthquakes and volcanoes cause.• Many valuable minerals and useful rocks are the productsof intrusive magmas.
Climate Change• Dealing with global warming requires knowledge of thecauses and effects of past climate change.• Data-model comparisons allow us to test climate modelsused to predict the future.
Some Time Periods to Teach
The Geologic TimescaleTopics in chronological order. Challenges include teaching:• The huge scale of geologic time.• Change in terms of cause and effect.• Relationships between
scientific evidence, the big ideas of science Details (extinctions, eruptions, interesting fossils)
History of Geology• Biographies and discoveries• Debates: how science works
Development of a LandscapeTeach students the geology of a region.• Enable them to work out:
The origins of different rock units Their rate of formation
Addressing Creationism
Age of the DinosaursScientific debates:
• The K/T extinction: impact or volcanoes?• Dinosaurs: warm-blooded or cold-blooded?
The Precambrian• Big changes in Earth’s systems• New and controversial theories:
The first cells The Oxygen Revolution Snowball Earth
Young-Earth Creationists in College• ~30-40% of US public university students
Why Address Creationism?• Students’ learning is affected by the beliefsthey bring into the classroom with them
How to Address Creationism• Inquiry-based lab and field work• Teach the nature of science vs. other beliefs• History of evolutionary theory & geology
Land, Life, and Climate ChangeFor intro students, you may want to teach thedevelopment of Earth’s systems separately.
The major scientific themes that enable us to prepare for thefuture are based on understanding the past.
There are many ways to structure a course or unit
Science Education Resource Center
