Teaching courses in various disciplines of Earth Sciences requires continuous innovation as new concepts and new generations of students change the dynamics of learning and teaching. Excellent teachers are always looking for new ideas and strategies that facilitate engagement, creative thinking and improve the transfer of ideas in the classroom. New ideas and strategies are usually developed, tested, and applied by teachers working in a wide variety of colleges and universities, but little of this knowledge or results of these experiences is disseminated to other teachers.

This session is devoted to presenting teaching techniques and ideas that teachers from different regions and academic backgrounds have found effective in teaching Earth Sciences classes. Many teachers have worked for decades using innovative and highly successful strategies, but little is known outside of their lecture rooms. During the EGU2009 we will have the chance to share their experiences. We welcome abstracts on original ideas for teaching all aspects of Earth Sciences courses, with special emphasis on field and excursion strategies, computer and laboratory teaching, and modeling. If enough interest is shown, we will consider publishing selected paper as a special issue of an international peer-reviewed journal.

Solicited speakers

Dr Zoe Robinson. Keele University. UK
z.p.robinson@keele.ac.uk

Dr. Rabi Mohtar. Purdue University. USA
mohtar@purdue.edu

Dr. Varyl Thorndycraft. University of London. UK
Thorndycraft@rhul.ac.uk