Bringing the Earth to life

Geoscience is a challenging science to teach. It involves processes that occur over huge scales of time and space, and much of its subject matter is deep underground. Dr Glenn Dolphin, of the University of Calgary in Canada, is committed to tackling this challenge, through connecting teachers and students with authentic research experiences

THE ART OF TEACHING

As you will know, effective teaching and learning is not just about the presenting and memorising of facts. To convey a proper understanding of the world, teaching needs to be engaging, interesting and accessible. What teaching techniques engage you? What makes learning memorable for you? What makes you excited about a subject? What makes you want to learn more?

Geoscience, or Earth science, does not always get the limelight in the same way as other sciences, such as astronomy or ecology. However, it is essential to our understanding of the world, and at the heart of many societal issues. Dr Glenn Dolphin, Tamaratt Teaching Professor in the Department of Geoscience at Canada’s University of Calgary, has introduced some novel teaching methods to help geoscience get the recognition it deserves.

GEOSCIENCE’S PUBLIC IMAGE

“Earth science is a very neglected science, and professional Earth scientists are retiring faster than they can be replaced,” says Glenn. He believes a key part of this is that it is not always taught effectively, and many students don’t see it for the fascinating subject area that it is. Geoscience has a key role in tackling humanity’s most pressing problems: climate change, extraction of energy and mineral resources, and access to clean air and water. Glenn is passionate in his belief that geoscience is a subject we should be paying more attention to.

New talented and enthusiastic Earth scientists – and Earth science teachers – are sorely needed. How can Earth science teachers be taught to teach well? “Traditional teaching methods, such as lectures and essays, are not nearly as effective as evidence-based approaches,” says Glenn. “This is where the model-based approach and authentic research experiences come in.”

MODELS TO UNDERSTAND THE EARTH

What’s more engaging: an essay about tectonic plates, or a physical model of them in action? Geoscience is complex, and the processes it studies happen at a far grander scale – in terms of both space and time – than we are accustomed to. To help teach this complexity and make the abstract concepts more approachable, physical and virtual models are an invaluable tool.

For instance, virtual outcrop models are one handy device in this arsenal. They are computer-generated 3D models of real-world rock outcrops. Drones capture hundreds or thousands of images of the physical outcrop from every angle, and the software ‘stitches’ these images together. Students can then explore these outcrops from the comfort of their computers.

GUIDING TEACHERS

As part of a team of teacher educators, Glenn worked with trainee teachers to address the concepts that are difficult to teach. Once teachers had selected a concept, they and Glenn’s team researched it and built a model to act as a teaching aid. Teachers were enthusiastic about the research and reported they had learnt a lot from the design-and-build process.

They presented these models at a science teachers’ conference, where other science educators also found them instructive. Many have also been rolled out to real classrooms, to see how successful they are in making the teaching and learning process easier.

Glenn hopes geoscience teachers “will continue to enhance their learning and teaching by continued research and development of models.” However, he wants teachers to be reflective as well as ambitious. He adds, “Hopefully, they will also become critical of models they use as many actually pose problems for learning as well as offer solutions.”

DRAMA AND BUILDING

Glenn believes that the intersection between science and the humanities should be embraced to make learning as captivating as possible. “I am currently collaborating with the university’s drama department to produce a play about four famous female geologists from different time periods,” he says. “It will explore their life histories, their research and the role that gender played in their careers.”

He is also working with the architecture department to develop a geological ‘time walk’. “It will be a scale model of the history of the Earth, in the form of a path,” he says. “People can walk along it and get a sense of the scale of geological time.”

Glenn is passionate about looking at the human stories behind science. For him, the history of how scientific knowledge has come to be is as important as the science. Glenn explains, “Demonstrating how science ‘fits’ into the rest of life provides a broader view of how science emerges from researchers’ real lives and real passions.”

Reference
https://doi.org/10.33424/FUTURUM80

Geologists, drone technicians and national park service personnel hike to the Saskatchewan Glacier in Alberta to collect image data to develop a virtual outcrop model.
Technicians collecting image data near Drumheller, Alberta, to create a virtual outcrop model.
Students using the ‘earthquake machine’ to understand mechanism for earthquakes.

THE ART OF TEACHING

As you will know, effective teaching and learning is not just about the presenting and memorising of facts. To convey a proper understanding of the world, teaching needs to be engaging, interesting and accessible. What teaching techniques engage you? What makes learning memorable for you? What makes you excited about a subject? What makes you want to learn more?

Geoscience, or Earth science, does not always get the limelight in the same way as other sciences, such as astronomy or ecology. However, it is essential to our understanding of the world, and at the heart of many societal issues. Dr Glenn Dolphin, Tamaratt Teaching Professor in the Department of Geoscience at Canada’s University of Calgary, has introduced some novel teaching methods to help geoscience get the recognition it deserves.

GEOSCIENCE’S PUBLIC IMAGE

“Earth science is a very neglected science, and professional Earth scientists are retiring faster than they can be replaced,” says Glenn. He believes a key part of this is that it is not always taught effectively, and many students don’t see it for the fascinating subject area that it is. Geoscience has a key role in tackling humanity’s most pressing problems: climate change, extraction of energy and mineral resources, and access to clean air and water. Glenn is passionate in his belief that geoscience is a subject we should be paying more attention to.

New talented and enthusiastic Earth scientists – and Earth science teachers – are sorely needed. How can Earth science teachers be taught to teach well? “Traditional teaching methods, such as lectures and essays, are not nearly as effective as evidence-based approaches,” says Glenn. “This is where the model-based approach and authentic research experiences come in.”

MODELS TO UNDERSTAND THE EARTH

What’s more engaging: an essay about tectonic plates, or a physical model of them in action? Geoscience is complex, and the processes it studies happen at a far grander scale – in terms of both space and time – than we are accustomed to. To help teach this complexity and make the abstract concepts more approachable, physical and virtual models are an invaluable tool.

For instance, virtual outcrop models are one handy device in this arsenal. They are computer-generated 3D models of real-world rock outcrops. Drones capture hundreds or thousands of images of the physical outcrop from every angle, and the software ‘stitches’ these images together. Students can then explore these outcrops from the comfort of their computers.

GUIDING TEACHERS

As part of a team of teacher educators, Glenn worked with trainee teachers to address the concepts that are difficult to teach. Once teachers had selected a concept, they and Glenn’s team researched it and built a model to act as a teaching aid. Teachers were enthusiastic about the research and reported they had learnt a lot from the design-and-build process.

They presented these models at a science teachers’ conference, where other science educators also found them instructive. Many have also been rolled out to real classrooms, to see how successful they are in making the teaching and learning process easier.

Glenn hopes geoscience teachers “will continue to enhance their learning and teaching by continued research and development of models.” However, he wants teachers to be reflective as well as ambitious. He adds, “Hopefully, they will also become critical of models they use as many actually pose problems for learning as well as offer solutions.”

DRAMA AND BUILDING

Glenn believes that the intersection between science and the humanities should be embraced to make learning as captivating as possible. “I am currently collaborating with the university’s drama department to produce a play about four famous female geologists from different time periods,” he says. “It will explore their life histories, their research and the role that gender played in their careers.”

He is also working with the architecture department to develop a geological ‘time walk’. “It will be a scale model of the history of the Earth, in the form of a path,” he says. “People can walk along it and get a sense of the scale of geological time.”

Glenn is passionate about looking at the human stories behind science. For him, the history of how scientific knowledge has come to be is as important as the science. Glenn explains, “Demonstrating how science ‘fits’ into the rest of life provides a broader view of how science emerges from researchers’ real lives and real passions.”

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Glenn hopes that his work will continue to be used by teachers to enhance their knowledge and teaching skills. “These teachers will have contact with thousands of students during their careers,” he says. “That is where the big payoff will be. Hopefully, they will bring other teachers along with them on this journey. If others see how successful they are, these teachers become models for future teachers.” Inspiring teachers lead to a ‘snowballing’ change in teaching style.

For the future of geoscience itself, there is a lot of fascinating and important research waiting to be done. There is ample opportunity for entry into the field, especially for those who are passionate about fixing the world’s problems.

DR GLENN DOLPHIN
Tamaratt Teaching Professor
Department of Geoscience
University of Calgary, Canada

FIELD OF RESEARCH: Geoscience Education

RESEARCH PROJECT: Designing and building models to help teachers understand and teach geoscience concepts.

FUNDER: The National Science Foundation

ABOUT GEOSCIENCE

Geoscience is the study of the Earth. This involves not only geology (the study of rocks), but also our ocean and river systems, the atmosphere, and the processes that interlink them all. Some might be surprised to know that geoscience also includes planetary science – including the study of asteroids and comets.

“Geoscience is like a crime scene that needs investigation,” says Glenn. “It goes back 4.6 billion years, and lots of evidence has been removed or changed. The geoscientist’s job is to sift through all the evidence, decide what is genuine, and develop a unifying explanation. It’s like being a detective, except more difficult because you never know if you have the right answer – you only have the answer that fits the evidence the best.”

GEOSCIENCE IN THE REAL WORLD

Geoscience underpins many of the issues we see today. For instance, geoscientists study the atmospheric changes that lead to global warming. They study the mineral and energy resources within the Earth, and the impacts of extracting them. They study the causes and effects of natural disasters like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. “Geoscience is necessary to preserve the human race,” says Glenn.

“I love teaching geoscience, because I learn something new every time,” says Glenn. “I love the process of assembling evidence into a story that I can tell students. When I teach, I make it about the scientists themselves and the context of their lives – the social, political and economic pressures at the time that all influence scientific progress. And, most fascinatingly, geoscience can lend insights that change the way we see the world forever.”

ADVICE FOR TEACHERS

So how can teachers make sure they are teaching geoscience – and other subjects, for that matter – in the most effective and engaging way possible? “Be bold,” says Glenn. “Some books suggest taking small steps in your teaching style, but I find that taking a deep breath and embracing change all at once is most satisfying.”

Geoscience may seem quite abstract at first, but it has significant relevance to our daily lives. “I find that students like a narrative, so I tell the stories of how geoscience concepts first developed,” says Glenn. “I find most students appreciate that approach, and it helps connect the science to their lives. It also helps students see that scientists are regular people, and more importantly, that regular people can become scientists.”

HOW TO BECOME A GEOSCIENTIST

• The American Geosciences Institute (AGI) has a great infographic that explains the broad range of career options related to geosciences: https://www.americangeosciences.org/workforce/workforce-infographic

• According to US News, the best universities for geosciences in Canada are Toronto, British Columbia, Alberta, McGill and Victoria.

• According to UK Uni, the top UK universities for geology are Imperial College London, Cambridge, Oxford, Durham and Bristol.

• Aside from university, there are apprenticeships available in geoscience. Oxford’s Department of Earth Sciences and the UK’s Environment Agency have taken on apprentices in the past.

• According to Payscale, the average salary for a geologist in Canada is around C$74k per annum.

HOW DID DR GLENN DOLPHIN BECOME A GEOSCIENTIST?

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE AS A CHILD?

I have wanted to be a geologist ever since I can remember. As a kid, I would keep pretty rocks in a large milk container and would wash and organise them. I often went to rock and mineral shows, bought crystals, and participated in a local rock and mineral club. I was surrounded by very supportive people, especially my dad and several teachers, who really influenced my trajectory into geology.

WHO INSPIRED YOU IN YOUR CAREER?

I have had many inspirations throughout my life. I had an enthusiastic Earth science teacher in ninth grade, and several professors at my local university helped me decide where to study. I had a great mentor when I then studied to become a teacher, after which I went on to teach at my old high school alongside two of my former teachers. These two people were crucial in helping me develop my teaching style, letting me explore alternative methods and helping me get leadership roles. I then got a PhD in science education, guided by many inspirational figures, and even in my current post I have great colleagues who help support my work.

WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED IN YOUR CAREER?

My toughest personal decision was leaving my daughter in New York when I went to work in Calgary. She was nine at the time and I regret missing many moments of her growing up. Professionally, my greatest challenge is getting more ‘traditional’ geoscientists to consider this kind of work important. It seems ‘fluffy’ to them because they don’t consider it hard science, and I find it difficult when I feel my work is not valued.

WHAT ATTRIBUTES HAVE HELPED YOU BECOME SUCCESSFUL?

I have a lot of energy and passion for what I do, and students can sense that and become passionate themselves. A thank you note from a student of mine said, “I am studying to be a teacher and feel so enthused after taking your class. Your passion for teaching and creating inspired, engaged learners is truly motivating.”

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

I am most proud of my family: three wonderful daughters and my wife, who is more than anyone deserves. My second proudest achievement is a textbook I wrote for one of my geology courses: “Stories in Geology: What we know and how we figured it out.” This book helps to fill two gaps in science teaching: the ‘process of science’, and the role of humanities and history in science.

PATHWAY FROM SCHOOL TO GEOSCIENTIST

At school, subjects like physics, maths and chemistry are the most desirable for university applications. Geography, computer science or biology are also favoured by some universities. Degrees in geology, geoscience, geophysics or Earth science can all lead to a geoscience career.

Glenn recommends taking every subject you can, even those outside your comfort zone. As well as maths and science, arts and the humanities play a significant part in research and teaching.

GLENN’S TOP TIPS FOR STUDENTS

01 – Find your passion and embrace it. Take chances and spend as much time as possible outside of your comfort zone.

02 – Use all your accumulated life experience, even chapters you don’t like, to make you who you are.

03 – Be bold, but also understand that our lives are shaped by everyone around us. We can influence the direction of our lives but are never in full control. I find this to be very liberating.