I hope the narratives and materials included in this reappointment website adequately convey my enthusiasm for teaching, undergraduate-centered scholarship, and service to SUNY Potsdam. I have learned and grown a lot in the past five years and I intend to continue in that trajectory. Some of my plans for future growth are outlined below.
Teaching
In response to generational changes in communication, given both smartphone apps and the pandemic, I hope to make better use of videos from YouTube or TikTok to illustrate geologic concepts, or have students make their own. Field Methods in Geology is a course in progress. I hope to continue conversations with colleagues about which skills are most important and improve the rubrics I currently use to assess those skills. In order to be a more prepared instructor of field-intensive courses, I took the Wilderness First Responder course in Spring 2017. I will be retaking that course Spring 2022 to renew my certification. Although not a requirement, given the remote nature of our fieldwork, I think it is essential that I am well prepared to deal with any physical emergency that may present itself. In order to stay abreast of current practices in science education, I have taken graduate education classes such as Science Curricula, Programs, and Standards. I plan to take additional education classes as opportunity allows such as Science Education Instruction.
Scholarship
I am actively recruiting students to analyze rocks from both Glenmeal State Forest and Stone Valley to continue research of the Carthage Colton Shear Zone and the tectonic history of the northern Adirondacks. I plan to extend my research into pedagogical questions. In fact, I have a student who is a Teaching Assistant for Environmental Geology who plans to research the efficacy of different pedagogical approaches using the two laboratory sections.
Service
In terms of service, I will continue to serve on the Academic Programs and Curriculum Committee. I will continue to serve as Assessment Coordinator in the department and am consistently revising our assessment plan and modifying the assessment tools. I plan to participate in more outreach activities both on and off campus, such as 'Regional Geology using the Geoscience Garden' and Earth Systems students visiting local elementary schools to practice their Earth Science lesson plans.
Teaching
In response to generational changes in communication, given both smartphone apps and the pandemic, I hope to make better use of videos from YouTube or TikTok to illustrate geologic concepts, or have students make their own. Field Methods in Geology is a course in progress. I hope to continue conversations with colleagues about which skills are most important and improve the rubrics I currently use to assess those skills. In order to be a more prepared instructor of field-intensive courses, I took the Wilderness First Responder course in Spring 2017. I will be retaking that course Spring 2022 to renew my certification. Although not a requirement, given the remote nature of our fieldwork, I think it is essential that I am well prepared to deal with any physical emergency that may present itself. In order to stay abreast of current practices in science education, I have taken graduate education classes such as Science Curricula, Programs, and Standards. I plan to take additional education classes as opportunity allows such as Science Education Instruction.
Scholarship
I am actively recruiting students to analyze rocks from both Glenmeal State Forest and Stone Valley to continue research of the Carthage Colton Shear Zone and the tectonic history of the northern Adirondacks. I plan to extend my research into pedagogical questions. In fact, I have a student who is a Teaching Assistant for Environmental Geology who plans to research the efficacy of different pedagogical approaches using the two laboratory sections.
Service
In terms of service, I will continue to serve on the Academic Programs and Curriculum Committee. I will continue to serve as Assessment Coordinator in the department and am consistently revising our assessment plan and modifying the assessment tools. I plan to participate in more outreach activities both on and off campus, such as 'Regional Geology using the Geoscience Garden' and Earth Systems students visiting local elementary schools to practice their Earth Science lesson plans.