In instructing introductory geology students, I have three main objectives:
- To spark students’ curiosity and excitement about the world around them. For most students, an introductory geology course is their first experience in learning and exploring science. This provides me as an educator with the opportunity to motivate students to look beyond their immediate surroundings (to teach what is outside the four walls), with the result that they become more interested, concerned, and amazed at the diversity of biological and physical environments on and within the planet. I do this by creating a positive, student-centered environment in the class (as well as outside the class, e.g., field trips).
- To teach at an introductory level the methodologies of modern contemporary science. This is critical in ensuring that the populace has a basic understanding of science in deciding public policy.
- To integrate up to date science and societally relevant topics into the curriculum (bringing geology “to life”). I hope to show students that entering the field of geology can be a rewarding experience, which can contribute to society.
For upper level undergraduate classes, such as stratigraphy, I have two main goals.
- To promote and encourage the use of the scientific method and the method of the multiple working hypotheses.
- To frame any geology course using a larger multi disciplinary approach to the earth sciences. This gives them a broader perspective and experience of the wide array of geological applications that can serve them in their future careers.
This is an introductory course that will explore the science behind climate change, how climate change is affecting our planet today, how it will affect the world in the coming decades, and the politics of climate change. Learn what individuals, communities, countries and the world are accomplishing to combat the climate crisis and what each of us can do to create a better world.
Click here to see the student learning objectives for GEOL078
This course covers major geologic events and climatic changes in our planet’s 4.6-billion-year history as well as evolution of life on Earth as documented through the fossil record.
Click here to see the student learning objectives for GEOL102
This upper-level geology class provides an introduction to understanding the several types of stratigraphic interpretations and their practical application in academic and industry settings. It will also provide a basic background in how the fossil record is used to interpret paleoenvironmental changes.