GSA Theme Sessions on Teaching in the Field and Nature of Geoscience Expertise

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to call your attention to the following theme sessions scheduled for the 2009 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting that will be held in Portland, OR, October 18-21:

T100. Field Geology Education — Historical Perspectives and Modern Approaches (conveners Dave Mogk and Steve Whitmeyer)

This session will address numerous aspects of field instruction including historical perspectives, alternative curricula, field technology, original research, and international experiences with a focus on learning goals, pedagogic value and assessment of learning in the field. We hope to attract a large number of contributions for oral and poster sessions to affirm the continuing importance of field studies in the geoscience curriculum.

T112. The Nature of Geoscience Expertise (conveners Dave Mogk, Kim Kastens, Cathy Manduca)

Key aspects of geoscience expertise will be explored including spatial and temporal thinking, understanding Earth as a complex system, learning in the field, and integration of evidence across many scales of observation, methods, and sub-disciplines. We encourage submission of abstracts that explore the cognitive, metacognitive, and affective attributes that contribute to the development of geoscience expertise.

Abstracts should be submitted online at: http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/techprog.htm
The abstract deadline is August 11, 2009.

Thanks to all for your consideration,
Dave Mogk