Geo-NeedsAn NSF funded project to explore barriers and opportunities for enhancing geoscience instruction at two-year colleges and minority-serving institutions

This work is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants No. DUE-1445227 (Petcovic), DUE-1445228 (Turner & LaDue), DUE-1445182 (Cartwright), and DUE-1445210 (Mogk). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Geo-NeedsOur goals:

• Identify and clarify barriers and opportunities for better use of existing instructional resources that engage underrepresented students in the geosciences at 2YCs/MSIs

• Explore with stakeholders what an “ideal” model of resources, professional development, and ongoing support for faculty and institutions might look like

PROJECT GOALS

Geo-Needs

What do we mean by “geosciences”?

Adopt AGI’s (2014) definition inclusive of

• Geoscientist • Subdivided into environmental

science, hydrology, oceanography, atmospheric science, geology, geophysics, climate science, geochemistry, and paleontology

• Geoscience Engineer• Environmental, exploration,

geotechnical, and manager

PROJECT GOALS

Geo-NeedsWho do we mean by “stakeholders”?

• Administrators from 2YCs/MSIs• Instructors from 2YCs/MSIs

• Resource providers who create curricula, programs, datasets, etc. that may be used at 2YCs/MSIs

• Learning scientists who study diversity in higher education, geoscience education, and broadening participation programs

PROJECT GOALS

Geo-NeedsOn your sticky notes:

• Write 3 words or (short) phrases that describe your institution or organization

• Write 3 words or phrases that describe the ways in which you hope to broaden participation in the geosciences

• Write a 6-word sentence telling us why you are here

INTRODUCTIONS

Geo-Needs

INTRODUCTIONS

Examples: (each on a different stickie)

• Happy utopia, rich, supportive

• Universal, ease of access, mastery

• Learn stuff, and the free food!

Geo-NeedsContinued:

• Put your stickies on the appropriate poster

• Take a minute to look around – what similarities and differences do we see?

• What intrigues you, or what do you want to know more, about the notes?

INTRODUCTIONS

Geo-Needs

Heather PetcovicLead PIWestern Michigan University

INTRODUCTIONSSheldon TurnerPINorthern Illinois University

Nicole LaDuePINorthern Illinois University

Tina CartwrightPIMarshall University

David MogkPIMontana State University

Monica BrucknerTechnical SupportSERC

Xai HerGraduate AssistantNorthern Illinois University

Andrew BentleyGraduate AssistantWestern Michigan University

Emily WardProject EvaluatorRocky Mountain College

Geo-NeedsAn NSF funded project to explore barriers and opportunities for enhancing geoscience instruction at two-year colleges and minority-serving institutions

This work is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants No. DUE-1445227 (Petcovic), DUE-1445228 (Turner & LaDue), DUE-1445182 (Cartwright), and DUE-1445210 (Mogk). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Geo-Needs

Who are Underrepresented Minorities (URMs)?• African American, Hispanic, and Native American/Alaskan• Might include Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, women,

multiracial persons, persons with disabilities, and first-generation college students

URMs in the Geosciences (AGI, 2014)• ~30% of Americans• ~9% of the science/engineering workforce (NCES, 2010)• ~7-8% of the geoscience workforce• ~18% of science/engineering bachelors degrees (NCES,

2010)• ~7-8% of geoscience bachelors degrees

GEOSCIENCE IN 2YCs and MSIs

Geo-Needs

GEOSCIENCE IN 2YCs and MSIs

Geosciences at 2YCs (AGI, 2014)• 24% of 2YCs offer a geoscience course or program• 27% of all students who earn a geoscience degree

spent at least 1 semester at a 2YC• ~35% of students at 2YCs are URMs• 18% of Associates degrees are awarded to URM

students

Geosciences at MSIs (our preliminary data)• 469 federally designated MSIs• 2.5% of institutions with geoscience programs are MSIs• ~33% of HSIs have a geoscience department or

program• ~5% of TCUs have a geoscience department or

program• ~4.5% of HBCUs have a geoscience department or

program

Geo-Needs

Administrators:

Identify potential sustainable opportunities for enhancing existing geoscience instruction and establishing new instruction

• Identify successful ways to inform students from underrepresented groups about geoscience workforce possibilities and prepare them for career opportunities in the geosciences

• Determine how the geosciences can serve the communities in which they are situated

• Identify desirable programs to enhance career opportunities in the geosciences

• Identify resources needed to establish and sustain a program of study in the geosciences

MEETING GOALS

Instructors:

How instructors at 2YCs and MSIs utilize responsive instructional resources, materials, and tools• Identify instructional resources that are currently used

and barriers to utilizing innovative resources • Identify support mechanisms and professional

development that are needed to help instructors develop courses and curricula

• Identify mechanisms to support instructors who teach "out of field"

• Identify resources needed to develop new courses of study in the geosciences

• Identify mechanisms to sustain new programs, curricula and resources

Geo-Needs

MEETING GOALS

Geo-Needs

Resource providers:

Identify the current and desired state of interactions between the creators and users of educational material• Determine how resource providers create and

disseminate their products, and communicate to potential users

• Identify the roles of 2YCs and MSIs in the development of culturally responsive curricula

• Identify ways in which curricula and materials can be designed to develop knowledge, soft skills, and habits desired by employers

• Identify strategies for continual creation of new education materials to meet the changing needs of the workforce and society

• Identify strategies for long-term maintenance of educational resources

MEETING GOALS

Geo-Needs

Education providers and researchers:

Identify opportunities to engage education researchers in addressing enduring questions about the recruitment, retention, education, and workforce preparation of underrepresented students• Determine work needed to better understand the

pathways and preparation of 2YC/MSI students• Determine mechanisms for how research on

preparation of underrepresented students can inform teaching practices

• Address potential barriers to conducting research at 2YCs/MSIs

• Identify mechanisms to promote greater quantity and quality of research on the issues presented in the workshop

• Explore how research and evaluation activities can inform one another

MEETING GOALS

Geo-Needs

Activities in each meeting:

• Individual writing and reflection (and brief homework)

• Small and whole group activities and discussion

• Collaborative authoring - producing documents, diagrams, models, or other products that will appear on the project website and in publications

• Provide feedback on papers summarizing the meeting findings

MEETING ACTIVITIES

Geo-Needs

We also want to meet your needs

• Network with participants to learn about other programs, contexts, and opportunities for geoscience instruction at 2YCs and MSIs

• Identify resources that might support your personal situation

• Develop an action plan for next steps after this meeting

GOALS FOR PARTICIPANTS

Geo-Needs

Products

• White paper summarizing overall findings (on project website) – participant reviewed

• Peer-reviewed publications and presentations

• Advice to 2YC/MSI faculty and administrators about supporting geoscience instruction for underrepresented students

• Collaborations and possible NSF proposals

PROJECT OUTCOMES

http://serc.carleton.edu/geoneeds/index.html

Geo-Needs

Meeting time: • 8:30 am – 5:00 pm• Please arrive by 8:15 to get settled in

Location: • NIU Naperville Conference Center, Room 162• Across from the hotel• Transportation provided from hotel at 8:10 am

Meals:• Breakfast at the hotel (6-8 am)• Lunch and snacks provided• Dinner as a group (alcohol separate)

LOGISTICS

Geo-Needs

Hotel: • Room is provided• Participants responsible for incidentals

Travel reimbursements: • Up to $600 of actual costs incurred

(receipts)• Green page in your welcome folder

Stipend ($150)• Green page in your welcome folder

Medical form:• Seal in envelope (in the morning)

LOGISTICS

Geo-Needs

QUESTIONS

Geo-NeedsPlease review your group’s webpage for any short reading assignments and question prompts. Come ready to discuss tomorrow!

http://serc.carleton.edu/geoneeds/index.html

HOMEWORK

Geo-Needs

An NSF funded project to explore barriers and opportunities for enhancing geoscience instruction at two-year colleges and minority-serving institutions.

This work is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants No. DUE-1445227 (Petcovic), DUE-1445228 (Turner & LaDue), DUE-1445182 (Cartwright), and DUE-1445210 (Mogk). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.