Upcoming On the Cutting Edge Deadlines

There are several upcoming On the Cutting Edge workshops with impending application dates that may be of interest to you. Don't miss out on these great opportunities!

Teaching Geochemistry 2010

In Association with the Goldschmidt 2010 Conference

June 11-13, 2010 - REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MARCH 28
University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Knoxville, TN

A workshop on Teaching Geochemistry (broadly defined and inclusive of related fields like mineralogy and petrology) will be offered prior to the 2010 Goldschmidt Conference, which will be held at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. The workshop dates are June 11 (Friday—which will be a travel day, with opening session that evening), followed by full day workshop activities June 12-13 (ending in time for the opening events of the Goldschmidt Conference). The workshop will include invited speakers, presentations on innovative approaches to teaching geochemistry, small group discussion sessions, and networking opportunities. Join us to learn more about resources that are currently available to support your own teaching of geochemistry, and help us build our collections of instructional resources. Workshop Website

Using GIS and Remote Sensing to Teach Geoscience in the 21st Century

August 8-11, 2010 - APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 20
Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

Join On the Cutting Edge for an exciting collaborative effort focused on enhancing the teaching of geoscience at the undergraduate level by using GIS and remotely sensed data. This workshop will bring together college and university faculty who teach using GIS and remotely sensed data both in the classroom and in the field. Participants will explore a wide variety of topics related to teaching geoscience students effectively using these tools both in GIS/remote sensing courses and as integral components of other courses taught in the geoscience curriculum.

This three day workshop will be followed by an optional day of teaching GIS in the field using Geopads. This day is an overlap day with the Teaching in the Field workshop and is open to participants in both workshops. Workshop Website

Teaching Geoscience in the Field in the 21st Century

August 13-16, 2010 - APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 20
Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

This workshop will explore many dimensions of field instruction: introductory to advanced courses, field instruction across the geoscience disciplines, learning in different field environments, setting goals and assessing learning outcomes, a survey of instructional practices including the use of instrumentation and information technologies in the field, and tips on designing, implementing, and sustaining effective field programs. This workshop is for college and university faculty who actively teach in the field. Participants will have the opportunity to share their experience in teaching in the field and will contribute to a collection of activities and resources to support teaching in the field for the benefit of the larger geoscience community.

The workshop will be preceded by the optional one-day Teaching GIS in the Field experience and followed by an optional three-day regional field trip through the geologic wonders of the northern Rocky Mountains. Workshop Website

Designing Effective and Innovative Courses in the Geosciences

First Session: May 26-27, 2010
Second Session: June 3-4, 2010
APPLICATION DEADLINE: APRIL 1

Finding the time, energy, and inspiration to develop a new course or to re-design an existing course is a challenge for faculty. The return of this successful and popular virtual workshop signals that help is on the way. Participants will make significant progress toward designing or re-designing an effective and innovative undergraduate course in the geosciences via synchronous and asynchronous sessions held via the web and phone.

Participants will use the online Course Design Tutorial developed by workshop leader Barbara Tewksbury as well as receive and provide feedback on assignments from workshop leaders and their fellow participants. Workshop Website

Teaching Geoscience Online – A Workshop for Digital Faculty

A virtual workshop to be held June 23-25, 2010 and June 28-29, 2010
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MAY 7 (application form will be available March 26)

This workshop is for faculty who teach geoscience courses in an online format. We will showcase successful strategies for the virtual classroom and provide a forum to share proven ideas for course design, class management, motivational strategies, and assessment. Part of the workshop will focus on working to create or refine parts of your online courses, and a peer review will allow you to receive individual feedback on your work and for you to provide insights to other faculty as well.

The workshop will include a series of web-based synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including presentations from experienced practitioners of online learning, panel discussions, on-line chat sessions, and time for guided individual and small group work. Workshop Website