Summary

The workshop provides high school biology teachers and their students with:
• Expanded knowledge in geosciences and its application in biology;
• Confidence in incorporating geosciences in their classes;
• Inquiry based lesson plans;
• Materials, such as fossil teeth, to make geosciences engaging and illustrate how scientists work;
• Methods for overcoming geoscience misconceptions (e.g., evolution in the fossil record);
• Exposure to data and techniques used by geoscientists;
• A field experience to provide a visual/conceptual framework for geoscience education

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National Research Council (2000) How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School. National Academy
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Piaget, J. (1970). Logic and psychology (translation, W. Mays), NY: Basic Books.
Spiro, R.J., Coulson, R.L., Feltovich, P.J., & Anderson, D.K. (1988). Cognitiveflexibility theory: Advanced knowledge
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Study of Reading.

We thank Gary Stringer of University of Louisiana at Monroe for helping run the field trip for
 teachers and gaining access to the fossil collection site

Lawrence Febo helped build sediment screens and assisted with the field trip

BP provided fossil, rock, and oil sample kits

Kentwood Water provided 5 gallon jugs for biospheres

The teacher workshop was supported by a grant from the Shell Foundation to J. A. Nunn