NAGTNews - Vol 14 - No 3 - March 2015

An archive of past NAGTNews message is available to members at http://serc.carleton.edu/mailman/listinfo/nagt.
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1. NAGT needs your vote on proposed constitutional changes

Just a reminder that NAGT's Executive Committee has proposed changes to the NAGT Constitution that require a vote from the membership. A majority of votes cast by at least 20% of the membership is required to approve these amendments. We are about halfway to the 20% threshold but need more members to take part in the voting. Please follow the link and exercise your power as a member of the organization.

Voting will close on Friday, March 21st. We appreciate your participation.

2. Earth Educators' Rendezvous Update

Thank you all the people who submitted abstracts for the inaugural Earth Educator's Rendezvous. We had a great response and the program committee is busy organizing the contributed program. It's going to be a fantastic event!

We have much more information available about the workshop and plenary program available on the website now and more will be coming in the next few days. You can find more detailed descriptions of the morning workshops and the afternoon mini-workshops. Keep an eye on the website as more details become available.

And a final reminder that the Early Bird Registration deadline is April 13, 2015. Get registered now to take advantage of the reduced registration rate.

3. Upcoming NAGT Program Deadlines

Several of NAGT's programs have deadlines coming up soon. Check them out and apply or nominate someone.

Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award

This award is given to precollege teachers who have made exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in the earth sciences and who are outstanding teachers. Each NAGT section selects a section winner and set their own nomination deadlines. The first section deadlines are approaching on March 31, 2015 (Midcontinent and Pacific Northwest).

Neil Miner Award

This award is given every year to an individual for exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in the Earth sciences. The deadline for nominations is April 1, 2015.

James Shea Award

Each year NAGT presents the Jim Shea Award to an individual for exceptional contributions in the form of writing or editing of Earth science materials (broadly construed) that are of interest to the general public and/or teachers of Earth Science. The deadline for nominations is April 1, 2015.

Dorothy LaLonde Stout Professional Development Grants

In honor of Dottie Stout's outstanding work and lifelong dedication to Earth science education, NAGT awards grants supporting Earth science professional development in three categories: Community College Faculty, Community College Student, and K-12 Educator. Deadline for applications is April 15, 2015.

Robert Christman Award

The Robert Christman Distinguished Service Award was established to recognize individuals who have provided long, distinguished service to the Association at the national and/or section level. Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Geoscience Teachers in the Park (GTIP)

The Geoscience Teachers in Parks (GTIP) program is a collaborative effort between NAGT and the National Park Service to provide professional development for K12 teachers of geoscience. Elementary, middle school, and high school teachers of geoscience, as well as recent graduates who are prospective geoscience teachers are eligible to take part in this program. Currently the program is located at Mt. Ranier National Park in Washington state. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2015.

4. InTeGrate Workshop Announcement: Coastal Hazards, Risk, and Environmental Justice

May 20-22, 2015
New Orleans, LA
http://serc.carleton.edu/integrate/workshops/coastal_hazards/index.html

Join us for this important workshop taking place between the 5th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon blow out in the Gulf of Mexico and the 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The Coastal Hazards, Risk, and Environmental Justice workshop will enable teams of faculty members and administrators, particularly from minority-serving institutions, to explore the interplay among these critical issues and develop plans for actions that they will take on their own campuses to better incorporate these issues into their curriculum and campus programs.

Participants will hear from leaders in the field, share current activities at their institutions, and brainstorm both within and across institutional teams. In an optional pre-workshop field trip on the afternoon of May 20th, we will explore parts of post-Katrina New Orleans from an environmental justice perspective.

This workshop is targeted for teams from minority-serving institutions and other colleges and universities that serve populations that are under-represented in the geosciences and related fields. Ideally teams will be multi-disciplinary and include two or three faculty members, department chairs, sustainability coordinators, or other individuals from a community college, college, or university (or multiple cooperating institutions from a community). Preference will be given to teams that can demonstrate institutional commitment to supporting post-workshop follow up activities.

More information about the goals and expectations for the workshop can be found on the workshop website as well as a draft program and an application form. The deadline for applications is March 25, 2015.

Limited financial support for travel is available via application.

Questions: David Blockstein, National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE)
David@NCSEonline.org
202-207-0004

5. InTeGrate Webinar: Scaling-up from classroom- to program-level with InTeGrate materials at 2YCs

Friday, March 13, 2015
9-10 AM Pacific | 10-11 AM Mountain | 11 AM-12 PM Central | 12-1 PM Eastern

This webinar will focus on possible ways to scale up from classroom use of InTeGrate modules at two-year-colleges (2YCs) to thinking on a larger, program-level scale. The InTeGrate website describes these opportunities as "Implementation Programs". Institutions, or clusters of institutions, are invited to apply for grants of up to $50,000 to develop and evaluate programs that model innovative ways of 1) increasing the number and diversity of students developing Earth literacy and/or 2) preparing a diverse workforce equipped to bring geosciences to bear in addressing societal issues.

The webinar is free but interested participants must register to receive information on how to connect to the session.

6. Cutting Edge Workshop: Student Learning About Critical Earth Issues Through the Use of Large Online Digital Data Sets

The Registration Deadline for the the Cutting Edge workshop Student Learning About Critical Earth Issues Through the Use of Large Online Digital Data Sets has been extended until March 15.

One of the best ways for students to understand the critical Earth issues facing humanity is through the analysis and interpretation of actual data. Fortunately, there are now many organizations that not only monitor many geophysical and geochemical properties of the earth but provide the data in user-friendly ways. Whether it is through maps, images, animations, or raw data, these data can be mined and interpreted by undergraduates in ways that allow them to develop an understanding of both the relevant critical Earth issues and of issues related to the reliability, errors, and significance associated with scientific conclusions and assertions.

This workshop aims to help instructors of undergraduate classes develop classroom activities, demonstrations, and research opportunities on topics of current societal relevance and interest using new online resources of geoscience data. These activities will be added to the extensive Cutting Edge online teaching activities collection.

Examples of digital data sets that will be explored for use in the classroom include:

• Earthquake locations and hazards
• Real-time volcano monitoring data
• Satellite-based ocean and land weather data
• Regional Climate Change data
• Geographic Information System data
• Tsunami modeling data
• GRACE satellite hydrologic data
• Geographic biomass data

The workshop will consist of 4 2-hour virtual sessions in May (6, 13, 20, 27), a two-week break for individuals and teams to work on their activities, and then 2 more sessions in June (17, 24) for sharing final products and getting feedback from fellow participants. More information is available on the workshop website.

7. InTeGrate Calls for Participation

The InTeGrate program is seeking educators to get involved with the program with three new calls for participation.

Apply for Funds to Participate in a Research Project with Your Course - April 17, 2015

InTeGrate is seeking to recruit a team of up to 12 instructors who will participate in a research project to assess the impact of introducing InTeGrate module materials into introductory geoscience or environmental science courses. Accepted participants will receive a stipend of $5000 per person. Expectations and application materials are available on the InTeGrate website.

Apply for Funds to Develop Teaching Materials or a Model Course - April 30, 2015

Respond to a call for proposals to develop new undergraduate-level teaching modules or model courses. Apply by April 30, 2015.

Apply for an Implementation Program Grant - June 30, 2015

Institutions, or clusters of institutions, can apply for grants of up to $50,000 to develop & evaluate innovative programs aimed at 1) increasing the number and diversity of students developing Earth literacy and/or 2) preparing a diverse workforce equipped to bring geosciences to bear in addressing societal issues.

8. Renew Your Membership Today

NAGT memberships are based on a calendar-year cycle and by renewing today you ensure uninterrupted access to NAGT's member benefits including our two publications: the Journal of Geoscience Education and the In the Trenches member magazine. This January, In The Trenches will feature the theme "Teaching Climate Change." Renew today to guarantee receipt of this important and timely issue.

Through your membership, you help NAGT offer a wide array of services to our members and to the geoscience community at large. From professional development workshops, to teaching resources, to awards and more, you can learn all about the many things NAGT has to offer on the website: http://nagt.org.

You can check your membership status and renew online by going to the NAGT Membership page. Want to do help NAGT do even more? Consider a sustaining membership, donation, or a multi-year membership.

Thank you for your time and commitment to our organization. We are happy to have you as a member and hope you will continue being part of NAGT in 2015.

9. Journal of Geoscience Education - Vol. 63, Issue 1 (February 2015) is now available online

The February 2015 issue of JGE is available online now through the JGE website. Below are the titles and authors of the articles published in this issue.

INVITED COMMENTARY

Creating a Community of Practice Around Geoscience Education Research: NAGT-GER
Laura A. Lukes , Nicole D. LaDue , Kim A. Cheek , Katherine Ryker , and Kristen St. John
Journal of Geoscience Education, Vol. 63, No. 1, February 2015: 1-6.

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

A Scientific Modeling Sequence for Teaching Earth Seasons
Beth Covitt , Diane Friend , Colleen Windell , and Julia Baldwin
Journal of Geoscience Education, Vol. 63, No. 1, February 2015: 7-17.

The monishar pathorer bon (Monisha and the Stone Forest) Book Project: Novel Educational Outreach to Children in Rural Communities, Eastern Indian Subcontinent
Nigel C. Hughes , Payel Ghosh , and Dipen Bhattacharya
Journal of Geoscience Education, Vol. 63, No. 1, February 2015: 18-28.

Promoting the Geosciences Among Grades 8–12 Minority Students in the Urban Coastal Environment of New York City
Reginald A. Blake , Janet Liou-Mark , and Reneta D. Lansiquot
Journal of Geoscience Education, Vol. 63, No. 1, February 2015: 29-40.

Earth Wind & Fire: A Learning Community Approach to Build Ties Between Degree Programs in a Geoscience Department
Cinzia Cervato and Dave Flory
Journal of Geoscience Education, Vol. 63, No. 1, February 2015: 41-46.

The AMS DataStreme Earth's Climate System Teacher Professional Development Course: Results from a Three-Year Study
James A. Brey , Elizabeth W. Mills , Elizabeth A. Day-Miller , Ira W. Geer , Robert S. Weinbeck , Bernard A. Blair Edward J. Hopkins , Kathryn L. O'Neill , Kira A. Nugnes , and A. Asokan
Journal of Geoscience Education, Vol. 63, No. 1, February 2015: 47-56.

Cooking Rocks: Teaching About Diagenesis on Earth and Mars
Marjorie Chan and Julia Kahmann-Robinson
Journal of Geoscience Education, Vol. 63, No. 1, February 2015: 57-65.

RESEARCH

Student Gestures Aid Penetrative Thinking
Kinnari Atit , Kristin Gagnier , and Thomas F. Shipley
Journal of Geoscience Education, Vol. 63, No. 1, February 2015: 66-72.

Development and Validation of a Science Inquiry Skills Assessment
Yiping Lou , Pamela Blanchard , and Eugene Kennedy
Journal of Geoscience Education, Vol. 63, No. 1, February 2015: 73-85.

10. Joint AGI-NAGT Survey on Implementing the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

I'm writing today to ask for your help gathering some important data about the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). I hope that you will use the link below to complete a survey that should take about 15 minutes. Your input is vitally important.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/agi-ngss

This survey is being conducted to learn about perceptions and needs related to the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The survey was developed by the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) and the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT). Data from the survey will be used to guide discussions about how best to support the implementation of the NGSS, especially with respect to Earth and Space Science (ESS). Anyone with interest in NGSS, and especially ESS, is welcome to complete the survey.

Salisbury University provided Human Subjects Review for this research. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me as the study director (see below). If you would like to report a problem you can contact the Chairperson of the Salisbury University Institutional Review Board, Dr. Rachel Buchanan at RLBUCHANAN@salisbury.edu.

Thank you in advance for your help with this important work.

Best wishes,

Ed Robeck, PhD
Director, Department of Education and Outreach
Director, Center for Geoscience and Society
American Geosciences Institute
703-379-2480 x245
ecrobeck@agiweb.org

11. EARTH Magazine Trial Offer

As part of the American Geosciences Institute's mission to bring together the wide array of geoscientists, AGI is offering a free 90-day (3 issues) digital trial to EARTH Magazine for members of all 50 member societies, including NAGT. AGI has published EARTH since 1956 (formerly Geotimes until 2008).

To take advantage of this offer, members should go to

http://www.earthmagazine.org/trial

and follow the instructions to sign up for the 3 free months. If you are already a subscriber to EARTH, signing up for the trial will add 3 months onto your existing digital subscription. There is no obligation and at the end of the trial subscription, you will be offered the option of renewing as a regular subscriber.

12. EarthEd2YC Webinars

Earth Education Resources for Two-Year College Faculty (EarthEd2YC) is a monthly webinar series facilitated by NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Earth Science Education & Public Outreach Forum (SMD E/PO) and NAGT's Geosciences for Two-Year Colleges (Geo2YC) professional division. Part-time faculty are especially encouraged to participate and to present. EarthEd2YC brings community college faculty together to exchange classroom ideas and resources in an engaging, quick format that values your time and maximizes sharing between participants.

Each live webinar is on the first Friday of the month at 1:00pm Eastern Time (10:00am Pacific Time). Each live 20 minute presentation is followed by 10 minutes of discussion, with real time chat throughout. All resources discussed in the webinar are made available online. The webinars are recorded and made available for later viewing. NASA Earth Forum is providing a Zoom (virtual conference) room and tech support so you merely need a laptop with a decent microphone and webcam.

If you would like to be a presenter, please contact Amber Kumpf at Amber.Kumpf@muskegoncc.edu

How to Participate:

Visit http://zoom.us to download and install the app (this should take less than five minutes). A Zoom account is free. For technical help during EarthEd2YC webinars, please contact Cassie Soeffing at cassie_soeffing@strategies.org

On webinar day, go to https://zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 652-616-777#

Upcoming Discussions:

March 6: Special Place Project – Dean Moosavi, Rochester Community Technical College (MN)
April 3: Urban Geology - Amber Kumpf, Muskegon Community College (MI)
May 1: Climate Data in the Classroom – Sherry Oaks, Front Range Community College (CO)
June 5: Geosciences of Dwarf Planets – Suzanne Metlay, Western Governors University (UT)

13. AWG Outstanding Educator Award

The Association of Women Geoscientists established the Outstanding Educator Award in 1988 to honor well-established college or university teachers who have played a significant role in the education and support of women geoscientists both within and outside the classroom. Examples of support include encouraging women to enter and continue in a geoscience career, providing opportunities for field and laboratory experience, and serving as a positive role model. In addition, awardees are selected on the basis of their contributions as professionals, involvement with professional societies or groups, and/or participation in science education programs in their community.

The deadline for nominations is April 1. Nominations must include a current vitae and at least six letters of recommendation from professional colleagues, former students, and current students. Compile all documents in one pdf file and email your nomination as an attachment to Chair of the AWG Outstanding Educator Award selection committee Dr. Kelsey Bitting (kelsey.bitting@ku.edu).

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Rock and Mineral Exchange

• Available: Rock specimens for trade
• Desired: Ig/Met Hand Samples Wanted

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Posted: Feb 26 2015
The University of Washington Tacoma (UW Tacoma) invites applicants for one or more full-time Lecturer positions in the area of Geosciences in the Division of Sciences and Mathematics within the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences (IAS). These are renewable positions with appointments of one to five years with a nine-month service period and begin on September 16, 2015.

Two-Year Visiting Position in Paleontology/Sedimentary Geology - Cornell College

Posted: Jan 5 2015
Cornell College, a private undergraduate liberal arts college founded in 1853 in Mount Vernon, Iowa, invites applications for a two-year visiting assistant professor in paleontology/sedimentology in its Department of Geology beginning in the fall of 2015.

Semester Position in Paleoclimatology - Cornell College

Posted: Jan 5 2015
Cornell College, a private undergraduate liberal arts college founded in 1853 in Mount Vernon, Iowa, invites applications for the Anderson Natural Science Lectureship, a semester-long sabbatical replacement position in its Department of Geology for the fall of 2015.