39 Improving Undergraduate STEM Education and Advancing Diversity in the Geosciences—How Are We Doing?

Monday, 20 March 2017
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Allegheny, 17th Floor

A NEW DUAL ENROLLMENT RESEARCH SKILLS CLASS TO BUILD CONFIDENCE AND INTEREST IN A POPULATION OF POTENTIAL GEOSCIENCE MAJORS

Paper number: 39-3
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 1:55 PM – 2:15 PM

Authors

Abstract

Faculty at URI and CCRI have joined forces in a program, GEOPATHS, designed to attract students to major in geosciences at URI. The program incorporates several strategies targeting students enrolled in introductory geology courses at both institutions. To boost confidence and build research skills in early undergraduate students, GEOPATHS includes a course developed to include enrollment of students from both institutions in one class. Modules for topics including scientific reading, hypothesis development, data collection, data analysis, scientific writing and presentation, allow students the chance to learn, practice and apply skills essential to success in the field of geosciences. This semester, spring 2017, is the first time this course is offered. Data collected comparing pre and post survey data from students participating in the first two modules is presented as preliminary evidence evaluating the effectiveness of this strategy.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 49, No. 2

doi: 10.1130/abs/2017NE-291202

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