Interdisciplinary Teaching In and Beyond Geoscience – Thinking Outside of the

BoxJennifer Anderson

Winona State University

Preparing for an Academic CareerJuly 2013

Interdisciplinary• What does this mean?• How are you/your research interdisciplinary?

Institute for Computational Earth System Sciencehttp://www.icess.ucsb.edu/

How about outside of the

Geosciences?

• What are some examples?• How might you/your interests stretch beyond the

Geosciences?

What is the benefit?• “As a discipline, geoscience often struggles to

find a place at the scientific table.”o Manduca & Kastens (2012) Geoscience & Geoscientists: Uniquely Equipped to Study Earth.

GSA Special Paper 486, p.1-12.

What is the benefit?• Many problems we currently face are geoscience-

related and very interdisciplinary.• The more people exposed to Geoscience, the better!

What is the benefit?• Make Geoscience invaluable; sneak it in

everywhere.o Departmental self-preservation.

Science Lab Center, Winona State University

Within Geoscience• We are very used to

thinking between the sub-disciplines of Geoscience.

o Emphasize sub-disciplines within classes.

o Interdisciplinary research projects with students.

o Co-teach, if possible.o Don’t assume the

students pick up on this; show them!

Anorthosite inclusions within the Duluth Complex; Two Harbors, MN © JLB Anderson

Within the Sciences• Again, fairly obvious.

o Physics, Chemistry, Biologyo Mathematicso Computer Scienceo Engineering

Science1.nasa.gov

Terasaki, et al. (2011) EPSL v 304, p. 559-564.

Outside of STEM• Liberal Arts

o Visual & Performance Arto Politics, Economics, Sociologyo Literature, Historyo Recreation & Tourism

• Business• Medical Professions• ???

Physics field trip to an off-the-grid farm© Nathan Moore

http://science.house.gov

A scientist and a

dancer

walk into a

classroom…?

Our Motivation…

• The world and people are interdisciplinary

• Break down artificial barriers for our students and for ourselves

• Explore science through movement

An interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to the concept of Time through the fields of Dance and Geoscience

Time in Motion

Kinesthetic Learning

Cherilynn Morrow, Space Science Institute

Pendulum Clocks

How is your body like a pendulum?

In the Field

And in the Lab

Student Response

“I feel more relaxed about learning scientific concepts. Dance… helped me understand in a way I might not have been able to otherwise…”

With K-12 Students and the General

Public

• Outreach in the Schools• “In-Reach” at the Univ.• Public Events

• Cub/Girl Scouts• Retirees

With Pre-Service Teachers• Whether you know it or not, they are in your

classes.o General Education, Intro-level, Upper-level

• Point out the connections between sciences, other disciplines, and education.

Investigative Science III: Earth & Life Science

Interdisciplinary Earth, Space, and Life Science for Elementary Education Majors

Challenges• Time & Support• Team-Teaching?• Department Culture• Majors vs. Non-Majors• Student Resistance

“I didn’t see a connection [between science and dance]…”

Should I do this?• Incredibly rewarding• Lots of fun• Affects a broader audience• I’m constantly learning from others

• Be comfortable. Have fun with this!• Show / tell / demonstrate connections in

our world to students of all ages.