The purpose of this "primer" for the general public is to describe the general characteristics of wetlands and how wetland alteration adversely affects the well-being of humans. Particular emphasis is placed on wetlands in New York State and the northeast. Topics discussed include wetland values, destruction of wetlands, the costs of…

Described are ways in which urban "rocks" (building stones, curbstones, sidewalks, etc.) can be used as resources for earth science teachers. Discussed are such activities as: classifying buildings according to rock type and mineral composition, extrapolating geologic history by examining common building materials, economics of stone industry, and…

This activity packet provides educators with a series of hands-on classroom and outdoor education activities for grades 9-12 that focus on geology using the Pilot Mountain State Park. The packet was designed to meet established curriculum objectives of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's Standard Course of Study. Three types of…

The modification of an entire undergraduate curriculum to the concept of meeting explicit educational goals and objectives is reported. This system clarifies the student's responsibility in a course, permits rapid restudy, aids evaluation by faculty, and allows for easy reorganization of courses. (JT)

Presented is a set of procedures designed to check the design, ergonomics, illumination, function, optics, accessory equipment, and image quality of a microscope being considered for purchase. Functions for use in a petrology or mineralogy laboratory are stressed. (CW)

Introduced is a sandstone classification scheme intended for use with thin-sections and hand specimens. Detailed is a step-by-step classification scheme. A graphic presentation of the scheme is presented. This method is compared with other existing schemes. (CW)

Described is the sequence of topics, learning activities, materials and demonstrations for the course. It is stressed that students can learn these skills in less than 30 hours of instruction. (CW)

This paper focuses upon the process of using curriculum and instructional frameworks to develop a curriculum unit in the earth sciences. The work stems from a graduate level seminar in science education which required participants to use a curriculum framework to design a unit of individualized science instruction. This research was guided by…

Provides list of mineralogy, petrology, and geochemistry computer programs. Each entry includes a brief description, program name and language, availability of program listing, and source and/or reference. (JN)

Described is a course designed to teach the intellectual methods of science while also fostering the development of mature, critical, and skeptical thinking students. Discussed are the course syllabus, teaching philosophy and techniques, and observed results. (CW)

Discussed are recognizing learning disabilities, the classification of learning disabilities, and testing instructional strategies in a geological sciences context. Suggestions for coping with the challenge of teaching these students are provided. Sources of assistance are listed. (CW)

Procedures for duplicating fossil raindrop impressions are presented. The use of modern and fossil imprints as the basis for qualitative and quantitative lessons in the interpretation of ancient sedimentary features is discussed. (CW)

Described is a set of FORTRAN programs, suitable for teaching and research purposes, that simulate contact and regional metamorphism. Equations, examples, program uses, and availability are discussed. (CW)

Presented is an approach to introducing upper division, undergraduate geology students to nonparametric statistics and their application to geologic data. Discussed are the use of the Mann-Whitney U and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests and a class assignment which illustrates their use. (CW)

This volume of 16 chapters by 15 contributing authors was conceived as a means of drawing together a body of basic information about the Great Lakes that is up to date, based on sound research, and interpreted by experts in the scientific, historical, environmental and political value of the Great Lakes to North America and the world. Chapters…