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May 15, 2023
Student creativity through Sciku (science haiku)
I could tell this semester’s course content was weighing heavily on my students emotionally, despite my efforts each week to discussion solutions to our global challenges. So I decided to lighten the mood at the end by challenging students to write and share their own “sciku”. I was completely amazed with their creativity, their passion, and the clear investment of themselves in writing the haiku and supporting description.
April 28, 2023
Distracted students, distracted faculty
Cultivating attention to remove distractions in the classroom is the approach suggested by Lang when working with students – but maybe this could be successful for faculty gatherings as well.
February 23, 2023
Framing an oceanography course around the Ocean Decade Challenges
The UN Ocean Decade Challenges acts as an excellent bridge between the traditional oceanographic topics with the science behind our ocean system, while highlighting solutions that incorporate sustainability, diversity, technology, and disciplines outside of STEM.
January 13, 2023
Starting online courses with one-on-one student meetings
What happens when you meet one-on-one in Zoom with each student enrolled in your online, asynchronous course during the first week of the semester? (1) Depending upon the size of the class, you are exhausted(!) and unable to schedule other/additional meetings. (2) You learn just how much meeting their online professor means to students.
September 3, 2022
Getting Earth Science Students to Learn by Letting them Speak [guest post]
Everybody has stories to tell. Using of student-produced audio narratives in the classroom allows students to tell the stores behind the subject matter. This can then enhance learning and student engagement, while letting them have a little bit of fun along the way.
August 29, 2022
Take 5… Earth science information, by state
Preparations for teaching involve pulling together datasets, visualizations, and information that is geographically centered. For those looking for information relating to the geographic location (or U.S. state) for your campus, students may be interested in exploring these resources.
August 17, 2022
Giving students a survey on the first day? Think about what you are asking, and why
First-day survey responses can yield stepping stones to conversations and modifications with regards to our students and our courses. As instructors, we need to be mindful and thoughtful about the questions we ask, how we ask these questions, and what (if anything) we will do with those responses.
July 28, 2022
What Inclusive Instructors Do – a book from Stylus Publishing
The themes of “equity and belonging” are present throughout the book, emphasizing that instructors can design learning environments for all students to reach their potential within a welcoming space that fosters a sense of belonging.
March 14, 2022
Using learning analytics in courses via Review, Amend, Apply
Implementing practices such as Review, Amend, Apply have the opportunity for us to create a more inclusive, equitable, and supportive learning environment. We can’t address all of the questions we have in just one semester, but by taking some time to work forward with thought and intention, we can improve our own pedagogical practices while increasing student success each time we teach.
February 11, 2022
Student-generated geoscience voicemails for the future – or present
Creative geoscience-themed voicemail assignments can help students with communication and research skills, along with practice telling stories of science and solutions
Laura Guertin is a Distinguished Professor of Earth Sciences at Penn State Brandywine in Media, PA. Her research focuses on how technology can enhance teaching and student learning in introductory-level geoscience courses for non-science majors. Her blog focuses on geoscience education/outreach, science communication, and technology tools in the classroom, online, and in the field.