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National Association of Geoscience
Teachers
Southeastern
Section Newsletter
Summer/Fall 2002 |
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Inside: The President's Thoughts OEST Award winners! Regional News
Calendar
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Southeastern Section
Officers
President: Michael A. Gibson Department of Geology, Geography, and Physics 215 Joseph E. Johnson EPS Building The 731.587.7435 mgibson@utm.edu
Past-President: Pamela Gore Department of Geology 404.299.4099 pgore@gpc.peachnet.edu Vice-President: David C. Kopaska-Merkel Geological Survey of 205.349.2852 davidkm@gsa.state.al.us Secretary/Treasurer: Pamela Gore
Department of Geology 404.299.4099 pgore@gpc.peachnet.edu Liaison to NAGT Executive Council: Steve
Good Department of Geology and
Astronomy 610.436.2203 sgood@wcups.edu Newsletter Editor: Stan P. Dunagan Department of Geology, Geography, and Physics 215 Joseph E. Johnson EPS Building The 731.587.7589 sdunagan@utm.edu |
The President’s thoughts…
As we progress through our Fall
semester, and having just completed summer duties, I would like to focus on an
issue of concern to me and to others in the section, namely greater
participation in identifying outstanding teachers at the K-12 level. I am prompted to make comments because out of
8 states and 11 listed state representatives, we only had 3 state OESTs and only 2 of those submitted complete packets for
consideration as regional OEST winners.
I
have noticed that this is a trend that has been taking place in our region for
several years now and I am concerned. I
recognize that we are all very busy and have plates overflowing with work; I
have the same problems. What truly
concerns me, and hopefully you will see this as well, is that we may be missing
perhaps one of the best recruiting opportunities we have for the geosciences. At a time when college enrollments are
shifting and new venues for higher education are developing (e.g.,
non-traditional degrees, on-line curricula and programs), the geosciences are
still not increasing numbers like our sister sciences are. The primary reason for this is that lack of
exposure to geology and geology related courses at the middle and high school
levels. Most students get to college
without an idea of what we have to offer and get little exposure to our science
until later in the college careers, often after committing to other majors, and
only as “last minute science requirements for a degree”. How often have you heard “…if only I had
known about geology earlier, I might have majored….”?
To echo this
lament I refer you to two well-written summaries of this problem:
Holbrook, J.
1997. Career potential in the Sciences, Geology in the High Schools, and Why
Would Anyone Major in Geology Anyway: Palaios,
12(6):503-504.
Van Norden, W. 2002. Problems in Geology Education: Our
High Schools are the Weakest Link: Palaios,
17(1):1-2.
Read them,
use them, share them with teachers wanting to increase
geoscience in their schools. They make
strong justification for teacher development courses, in-service programs,
grant writing, etc.
Cultivating
Middle and High School teachers, through encouragement and rewards in the
geosciences, is vital to identifying potential geoscientists of the future, at
a time early enough in their educational careers that will allow them to enter
our field. Because the “educational
system” has evolved such that geology is not a part of secondary school
curricula directly, except in some exceptions, we need to identify, encourage,
publicize, and recruit teachers to be our advocates.
For us to
accomplish this, each state needs to be consistently and relentlessly proactive
in this regard. On a similar note, most
of you received an invitation for a “meeting of the minds” to take place in
November in
Strong
presence in K-12 is a recruiting venture.
It behooves each of us to find those good teachers who can then serve as
our advocates in K-12. One very good way
of doing this, visibly and effectively, is by nominating teachers for OEST
awards in your state. While this year’s
cycle has essentially ended, it is not too late to begin the process for next
year. June will be here all too soon!
Michael
Membership / Treasurer Report: We have 164 members, as of May 2002, and
$3754.25 on deposit as of
Musings from the new newsletter editor – Stan P. Dunagan
If you’re reading this on a piece of paper, then you didn’t get the email version of the newsletter. I wasn’t easy and it took a little longer than expected, but I eventually got it done. And it was worth it. Luckily, it is easy to sign up for the next electronic version of the newsletter - just email me at sdunagan@utm.edu and put SENAGT newsletter in the subject line. You can also check out the newsletter at www.utm.edu/~sdunagan/SENAGT/.
My hope is that
the e-newsletter will catch on and that after the switch you will grow to enjoy
it. It will save SE NAGT money (by reduced postage and paper usage). There will
be less time between printing and members receiving it in the mail. The e-newsletter will also serve as an
digital archive of sorts for SE NAGT, because if you're like me a week after receiving
your paper SE NAGT newsletter it's either been lost, recycled, or tossed in the
trash. Now you can get to
I would
strongly suggest you check out the web version and please let me know if you
have any complaints, gripes, suggestions, or comments. I promise not cry or
hold a grudge. I do not believe that this particular version of the digital
newsletter represents the pinnacle of electronic publishing. I am sure it will
continue to evolve and you are welcome to assist in the evolutionary process.
And speaking of
evolution, what is going on down in
Luckily, SE
NAGT can help members stay informed about relevant or controversial issues in
our region that might affect them. Could what happened in
Lastly, how do
we stay current with potentially important or controversial geoscience issues occurring
across eight states? Report items you think are newsworthy to your State
Representative or to me directly.
Thanks, Stan
Meeting News Planning ahead for the future . . .
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Outstanding
Earth Science Teacher (OEST) Awards
State
OEST Winners
Congratulations to our State OEST Winners! SE NAGT finds it hard to believe that states who did not report an OEST winner do not have outstanding earth science teachers. Do you know of someone who should be recognized for their efforts? Should you be recognized? The time for OEST identification for 2003 is now, so we encourage you to contact your state representative and make a nomination. Applications for OEST can be copied from the Journal, downloaded from the NAGT website, by contacting any member of NAGT listed on the officers’ page of this newsletter, or taken from this newsletter. It’s easy! |
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Websites
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OUTSTANDING
EARTH SCIENCE TEACHER AWARD Nomination /
Application Form Name
_________________________________________________________ Years Teaching
__________ Street
Address ___________________________________________ Telephone
_____________________ City,
State & Zip __________________________________e-mail _______________________________ College/University
attended__________________________ Degree(s)________ Major_______________ Annual
percentage class time devoted to teaching earth science ____________ Grade
level(s) __________ Name of
School ________________________________ Telephone____________ Fax _______________ School
Address
_________________________________________________________________________ Name and
Address of School District Superintendent
___________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Name and
Address of Local
Newspaper______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________
Name of Nominator
____________________________________________Telephone ___________________ Address __________________________________________
E-mail _________________________________ ___________________________ Signature of Nominator
(or Applicant) ______________________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - Send
all forms, materials, and supporting documentation in one package to:
Please feel free to
copy this form for nomination purposes. |
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Get
the next newsletter via email, it’s easy – just email sdunagan@utm.edu |
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REGIONAL NEWS |
We came
closer this year to getting some nominations for OEST, but in the end all we
received were promises. This year we e-mailed teachers we knew and begged. We
even told one teacher we’d nominate her ourselves if she sent us the
information we needed for the form. And, we got the Education Committee of the
Geological Survey of Alabama to pony up $100 cash. What do these teachers want?
We’ll figure it out one day, but it won’t be this year.
We know of a
couple of high schools in
Several
The state’s
science curriculum, new last year, more or less
follows the national standards and therefore mandates earth science at every
level. Ignorance and budget constraints have limited implementation of the new
standards, but at least some school systems are moving to increase
earth-science instruction.
The Alabama Science Teachers Association meeting is October 10-12 in
The Alabama Geological Society runs a 2-3 day field trip in the fall of each
year and these are always top-notch affairs. Please contact Jack Pashin at jpashin@gsa.state.al.us
for more information. The society also has published more than 30 field-trip
guidebooks; contact Lewis Dean (ldean@gsa.state.al.us)
for information.
The Geological
Survey of Alabama (GSA) Education Committee and the University of West Alabama
are once again sponsoring a 1-day paleontological field workshop for teachers
(October 22, 2002). If you are interested, please contact David at davidkm@gsa.state.al.us.
The GSA has
released a couple of new brochures on the subjects of ground water and springs
in
EVOLUTION
CONTROVERSY HEATS UP:
The teaching of evolution is once again in the news in
DINOSAURS AT THE
MIDDLE GRADES MATH AND
SCIENCE INITIATIVE:
The Middle Grades Math & Science Initiative is part of a Title II Work Plan
for the Georgia Teacher Quality Plan. This Initiative provides content courses
in mathematics and science for middle grade teachers who are currently teaching
out-of-field and need college-level courses to meet new re-certification
standards. Funded by a United States Department of Education Title II Teacher
Quality Enhancement Grant, the project is designed to help
A course in Earth and Space Science for Middle Grades Teachers
has been developed at
Upcoming
Minigrants ($) - The Georgia Mineral Society
offers the Norman Sandford Pottinger
Earth Science Education Minigrants. More information at http://www.gamineral.org.
North Carolina (submitted by Cindy Copolo [copoloc@prodigy.net])
The 1st Annual Earth
and Environmental Science Regional Educators’ Conference entitled, “Interacting
with Earth Systems,” is inviting earth and environmental science teachers and
educators of Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia
to participate in a weekend conference in the mountains of North Carolina to
learn classroom activities, gain valuable field experiences and network with
fellow educators!
The conference is
Itinerary:
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Friday, November 8 (registration from |
Saturday, November 9 |
Sunday, November 10 |
Lunch will be provided on
Saturday but Friday and Saturday dinners are on your own. Registration Fee: $50
payable to NCCSM
Accommodations: Rooms are reserved at the Broyhill
Inn in Boone for the evening of Friday and Saturday, November 8 and 9. All
rooms are $76 per night for either double or single occupancy (there is no
additional charge for the second person in the double occupancy room). To get
this rate, mention that you are with the Earth and Environmental Educators’
Conference. All reservations must be made by
Directions:
From the East on I-40
W. Take Exit #188 onto Highway 421N and continue to downtown Boone. Turn left
at
From the South on I-85 N.
Drive north to
From the
Southwest on I-40 E. At
From the
Northwest on 421S.
Travel on 421S into downtown Boone. Turn right onto
Sponsored
by the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT), the National Earth
Science Teachers Association (NESTA), NC Department of Public Instruction and
Appalachian
Pre-registration form
1st Annual
Earth and Environmental Science Regional Conference
Broyhill Inn and
Name:
_________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Email address:
_________________________________________________
Phone Number: _________________________________________________
FAX Number: _________________________________________________
Please send this form,
along with $50 (payable to NCCSM) to:
Dr. Cynthia Copolo
Moon Rocks and Meteorites Land in Tennessee: The University of Tennessee
at Martin's Dept. of Geology, Geography, & Physics in cooperation with the
NEW GEOLOGY EXHIBITS AT UT KNOXVILLE'S McCLUNG
MUSEUM: The Frank H.
The temporary exhibit - "Burgess Shale: Evolution's Big Bang"
features a small selection of specimens from the Smithsonian's collection from
this spectacular Middle Cambrian formation, plus abundant artwork showing
reconstructions of many of the animals. Other components include the
historical changes in biologic interpretations of some of the Burgess animals,
such as Halucigenia.
The permanent gallery is a dazzling array of specimens, dioramas, and artwork
designed to engage visitors of all backgrounds. The general geology
section includes a brief introduction to minerals - with excellent specimens
from the Elmwood Mine, near
Above these exhibits are two large plasma screens - the first featuring the
"Earth Bulletins" feed from the
The remainder - and largest part - of the gallery is devoted to the geologic
periods represented by surface deposits across
The center of the gallery focuses on
vertebrate life of the Mesozoic, including the five hadrosaur
bones, which remain the only dinosaur bones reported from
Cenozoic fossils are not
neglected. There is an exhibit of Claiborne Formation leaves and seeds from the
famous clay pits at
Your SE NAGT State Representatives
Douglas W. Haywick LSCB 136 dhaywick@jaguar1.usouthal.edu 334.460.6381 David Kopaska-Merkel Geological Survey of davidkm@gsa.state.al.us 205.349.2852
Jonathan R. Bryan Earth Sciences Okaloosa-Walton Jr. College 850.729.5246
Department
of Geology 404.299.4099 |
Nancy Huebner 404.370.8080
andrealwalker@hotmail.com 504.488.5268
Gail S. Russell Department of Geology, Gail.Russell@usm.edu 601.266.4077
Mary Watson NC Geological Survey Division of Land Resources, 1612MSC Mary.Watson@ncmail.net 919.733.2423 |
John Wagner Department of Geological Sciences jrwgnr@clemson.edu 864.656.5024
Stan P.
Dunagan Dept. of
Geology, Geography, and Physics 215 Joseph
E. Johnson EPS Bldg. The 731.587.7589 Michael
A. Gibson Dept. of
Geology, Geography, and Physics 215
Joseph E. Johnson EPS Bldg. The mgibson@utm.edu 731.587.7435 |
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NAGT |
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Teachers at both the national and sectional levels ·
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