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Collection: Starting Point (SERC)
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- Abstract: The University of Nebraska's Department of Graduate Student Academic and Professional Development offers a catalog of suggestions for college teachers who are looking for fresh ways of creating the best possible environment for learning. Not just the first day, but the first three weeks of a course are especially important, studies say, in retaining capable students. Even if the syllabus is printed and lecture notes are ready to go in August, most college teachers can usually make adjustments in teaching methods as the course unfolds and the characteristics of their students become known. These suggestions have been gathered from UNL professors and from college teachers elsewhere. The rationale for these methods is based on the following needs: to help students make the transition from high school and summer activities to learning in college; to direct students' attention to the immediate situation for learning-the hour in the classroom; to spark intellectual curiosity-to challenge students; to support beginners and neophytes in the process of learning in the discipline; to encourage the students' active involvement in learning; and to build a sense of community in the classroom.
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- Abstract: This site from SERC's Starting Point explains that active learning is a student centered approach in which the responsibility for learning is placed upon the student, often working in collaboration with classmates. Links to examples of Active Learning techniques are included on the site.
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- Abstract: In this lab, each student or small student group "adopts" a different outcrop or road cut, describing and interpreting both the outcrop scale features and hand specimens. This website provides a context for the use of this lab, and describes learning goals, teaching notes and assessment. It also includes downloadable handouts and other teaching materials.
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- Abstract: These PDF files are Illustrated Lectures from his Earth history class (entitled introductory biology). The PDF files contain a lot of projection-ready graphics that may be useful in introductory Earth Science lectures. Lecture topics include the nature of science, cosmological evolution, biological evolution, life as a chemical function, The Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eons, life and energy and biology and society.
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- Abstract: This online computer game deals with why allosaurs hunted as they did, as well as how. The student needs to balance the need for food for energy and growth with the risk of being savaged by one's potential prey or killed outright by another allosaur. The "Big Al" starts out as a 0.2 kg hatchling and ends up as a hunter of sauropods and a parent to the next generation of allosaurs. On this Starting Point page, users can access information about the exercise's learning goals, context for use, teaching notes and tips, teaching materials, assessment ideas, references and topics covered.
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- Abstract: This exercise is intended to connect students to geology and to remind them of the diverse ways in which people, including geoscientists, relate to rocks. Groups of students are asked to examine rock samples from specific perspectives such as sculptors, landowners or geologists, and then present relevant observations and questions. Next, individuals write one-minute papers summarizing what they have learned and evaluating the activity. On this Starting Point page, users can access information about the exercise's learning goals, context for use, teaching notes and tips, teaching materials, assessment ideas, references and topics covered.
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- Abstract: This site from SERC describes how the Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT) technique can also be used to end a subject and review material. This type of exercise is typically called a "puzzle." Puzzles are more complex questions that require more accurate responses and are typically evaluated more rigorously.
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- Abstract: Through a higher-order integration of concepts and observations, students can combine information from several field labs, all discussed in the Starting Point collection, to construct an overall geologic history of the local region. This site details the learning goals, teaching notes and materials, method of assessment, and context of use of this lab. It also provides links to additional references and resources.
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- Abstract: This site from SERC's Starting Point offers sample rubrics that can be used for informal and formal evaluations of the Gallery Walk. These rubrics range from group participation to the quality of oral and written reports.
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- Abstract: This site from SERC describes creative methods that instructors can employ to entice students into answering Just-in-Time Teaching (JiTT) questions. Responses can be evaluated for accuracy or for completion. A JiTT assessment rubric example is outlined.
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- Abstract: Astrobiology Magazine is an online service that provides summaries of scientific articles relevant to astrobiology. Specific topics include microbiology, paleontology, astronomy, climate history, planetary studies and space technology. The website is updated daily and free to access, however users must register to use the site. Users may follow links to an image gallery, book reviews, and a downloadable bibliography of research articles on astrobiology.
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- Abstract: The Keeling/Mauna Loa carbon dioxide project home page has fresh data and a bibliography, along with a short description of the project. The project is supported by the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center of the Oak Ridge National Laboratories. CITE AS: Keeling, C.D. and T.P. Whorf. 2003. Atmospheric CO2 records from sites in the SIO air sampling network. In Trends: A Compendium of Data on Global Change. Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tenn., U.S.A.
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- Abstract: The goal of this paper written as part of the MIT Systems Dynamics in Education Project is to teach the reader how to distinguish between stocks and flows. A stock is an accumulation that is changed over time by inflows and outflows. The reader will gain intuition about stocks and flow through and extensive list of different examples and will practice modeling simple systems with constant flows. STELLA modeling examples include, but are not restricted to, skunks populations, landfills, a bank account and nuclear weapons.
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- Abstract: This American Scientist article by Christian de Duve reviews current ideas of the origin of life from abiotic materials, including the early atmosphere and the "RNA world." Users can read this article online, request classroom use permission or email the article. The page also contains links to related articles of possible interest to the reader.
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- Abstract: In this role-playing activity, students physically act out the motions of P-waves and S-waves in class to help them develop an understanding of how these waves work in the Earth. On this Starting Point page, users can access information about the exercise's learning goals, context for use, teaching notes and tips, teaching materials, assessment ideas, references and topics covered.
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- Abstract: This exercise opens up discussion on global biodiversity loss. Students count the number of species they can find in a five-minute block of time in both an urban green space and natural, unmanaged forest area. They will begin to recognize low and high biodiversity areas and understand what affects biodiversity loss. This exercise can be completed in one normal two-hour lab session. This SERC Starting Point site includes learning goals, context for use, teaching tips, assessment, and references.
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- Abstract: This Ology game site contains rules and a board for a board game dealing with extinction, particularly the modern biodiversity crisis. The players need to read endangered species facts from the board to answer questions on the spaces that they land in so that they can progress. Users can follow links to what to do and materials needed for the game.
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- Abstract: This web article discusses the history of evolutionary genetics. The article highlights important contributors such as Sewall Wright and Dobzhansky as well as current ideas in evolutionary genetics. From this webpage, users can read and download the article and follow links to other useful websites.
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- Abstract: This article written for the Maryland Geological Survey discusses the most common stones produced in Maryland quarries. Descriptions of the stones include, not only geologic explanations, but also their history and famous places in which the stones are used.
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- Abstract: The Cornell University's Geoscience Information System Project is a major initiative that targets to develop a comprehensive Geoscience Information System for the geosciences Building the Digital Earth is part of that project. This website is a great interactive site containing a great wealth of digital geological and geographical information. Users can access information regarding the Digital Earth project, an interactive mapping tool, data sets and metadata. Users can also access the Discover Earth project, an interactive tool designed to help students learn about a variety of earth science topics. There students can participate in variety of activities dealing with earthquakes, volcanoes, topography, plate tectonics and sea level change. The site also contains links to java applets GEOID, QUEST, virtual experiments and interactive 3D graphics. This is a resource with wide variety of digital data and resources.
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