Conceptual Difficulties in Conceptual Difficulties in learning Geoscience: learning Geoscience: a pilot studya pilot study

Dr Helen Kinghttp://www.helenkingconsultancy.co.uk

What aspects of learning What aspects of learning Geoscience do students have Geoscience do students have difficulty with?difficulty with?Holistic understanding of the Earth as

an integrated system (e.g. Ben-Zvi-Assaraf & Orion,2005; Blake, 2005; Dal, 2007)

Spatial scale (e.g. Ault, 1984; Kusnick, 2002; Dickerson et al, 2005)

Geological time (e.g. Trend, 2001; Kusnick, 2002; Dodick & Orion, 2003; Libarkin et al, 2007)

Changing landscapes (e.g. Kusnick, 2002; Blake, 2005; Dal, 2007)

Abstract concepts (e.g. Dove, 1998)

3D Visualisation (e.g. Dove, 1998; Kali & Orion, 1996; Kastens & Ishikawa, 2006)

MethodologyMethodologyGrounded theory approach

On-line survey with students & faculty◦University of Calgary◦University of Colorado at Boulder◦University of Plymouth

Follow-up interviewsCoding of data

QuestionsQuestionsWhat geoscience concept has been

difficult for you [your students] to understand?

In what ways was this concept difficult for you [your students]?◦ How did professor(s) help? What else might

have helped?

◦ Interesting aspects of Geoscience

◦ Thinking about / viewing the world differently

Difficult ConceptsDifficult Concepts

Difficult ConceptsDifficult ConceptsMineralogy & CrystallographyMap Reading & InterpretationStructural GeologyStratigraphy & space / time

relationshipsChemistry / GeochemistryMetamorphism

Terminology & Memorisation

Reasons for DifficultiesReasons for Difficulties

Reasons for DifficultiesReasons for DifficultiesTerminology & memorisationSpatial LiteracyProblems with math or scienceAbstract / visualising the unseenIssues with teaching or learnersGeological time

Hard to grasp

Reasons for DifficultiesReasons for Difficulties

Further research...Further research...Increase dataset for

questionnaire & interviews;Check-list to quantify extent of

difficulties;Task-based questions to seek

hidden difficulties.

Build up a framework...

What on Earth are they What on Earth are they thinking?thinking?

• Alternative Conceptions

• Troublesome Knowledge (ritual, inert, tacit)

• Cognitive Development

Terminology Spatial Literacy Math & science

Abstract concepts Geological time Earth systems

Changing Landscapes

• Learning & Teaching

TransformationTransformation“All the time, Looking at mountains and the

land. Everything looks different for me and I like to explain to other people what everything means.”

“I have better appreciation for where goods come from. ...”

“I think more in three and four dimensions now than when I first started my undergrad....”

“...I learned change is really the status quo for any location on earth. I am also now horrified by the lack of science in schools and public policy. ”

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgementsThank you to the faculty and students who participated in this research for sharing their perspective on learning Geoscience.

This research was funded by a grant from the UK Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences (GEES): http://www.gees.ac.uk/