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Understanding the UK Mathematics Curriculum Pre-Higher Education: The Maths, Stats & OR Network, in conjunction with the Subject Centres for Bioscience, Engineering, Information and Computer Sciences, Materials and Physical Sciences, commissioned Mathematics in Education and Industry (MEI) to compile a mathematics guide. This outlines what students with given prior qualifications in mathematics are likely to know and be able to do and is written for those within the UK HE sector.

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More Earth Science Resources & Information

Senior Advisors for Earth Sciences- Dr Jim Andrews & Dr Helen King

Earlier in 2008 Neil Thomas (Kingston University) gave up his role as Earth Science Senior Advisor for the GEES Subject Centre. We are really grateful to Neil for all the hard work he contributed over many years. Following a process involving applications and interviews, Jim Andrews (University of Southampton) has been appointed to this position, with Helen King (formerly the GEES Assistant Director) providing additional assistance. We have no doubt that Jim and Helen will do an excellent job on behalf of the Earth Science community and the GEES team is, therefore, very much looking forward to working with them.

Contact the Senior Advisors

Jim Andrews: School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton
Email: jra2@noc.soton.ac.uk
Tel: 02380 592-009

Helen King: Higher Education Consultant
Email: helen@helenkingconsultancy.co.uk

About Jim

Jim is a Senior Teaching Fellow in the School of Ocean and Earth Science at the University of Southampton.   His main areas of educational interest are enhancing the Earth sciences curriculum and promoting student learning. He maintains a strong scientific interest in tectonics and structural geology. He has recently been playing an active role in curriculum development at national level through his contribution to and promotion of the GEES Earth Sciences Action Plan and with his work for the Accreditation Panel of the Geological Society of London. He has played a prominent role in promoting staff development, employability and the student cycle at the University of Southampton.

Jim is currently Executive Secretary of CHUGD (Committee of Heads of University Geoscience Departments) and a member of the Education Sub-Committee and Accreditation Panel of the Geological Society of London. He was an advisor representing CHUGD in the recent revision of the Benchmark Statement for Earth Science, Environmental Science and Environmental Studies.

About Helen

Helen has been working in academic development in the UK for over 11 years. After obtaining her doctorate in geophysics, she moved on to manage a project in Earth Science staff development which brought together colleagues from around the UK in a series of teaching-related workshops. Building on the skills and interests she had developed in this project she then became the Manager, and later Assistant Director, of the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences (GEES).

During her career, Helen achieved a variety of awards including the Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA) Fellowship and the HE Academy’s National Teaching Fellowship. In August 2007, Helen left the Subject Centre to move to the US with her husband and chose to use her experience and expertise through consultancy work. She has several clients in UK higher education across various subject areas but her particular interest remains within the geosciences.

Helen is currently Associate Editor of the Journal of Geoscience Education and Programme Manager for the SEDA qualification in Supporting Educational Change. In 2008 she is convening a Geoscience session at the International Conference on Threshold Concepts in Kingston, Canada, and co-convening a session on Geocognition at the Geological Society of America annual meeting.

Their Remit

Working together the Senior Advisors for Earth Sciences will undertake the following roles:

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Relevant Professional Bodies, Subject Associations and Networks in the Earth Sciences

Committee of Heads of University Geoscience Departments (CHUGD)

"CHUGD is the subject association of Geoscience (geology, applied geology, earth science, geophysics, geochemistry and some environmental science) departments/schools based within universities in the British Isles. It promotes discussion and exchange of information between departments/schools, and provides a point of contact between these and professional, government and quality control agencies. Membership is at departmental/school rather than individual level and all heads of department/school, or their nominees, are ex officio departmental/school representatives."

Earth Science Education Forum for England and Wales (ESEF)

"The aims of the Earth Science Education Forum for England and Wales are to promote earth science in education at all levels; and to bring together all relevant organisations in pursuit of the above."

Earth Science Teachers' Association (ESTA)

"The aim of the Association is to advance education by encouraging and supporting the teaching of Earth sciences at all levels, whether as a single subject such as Geology, or as part of Science or Geography or other courses."

The Geological Curator's Group

"GCG's purpose is to improve the state and status of geological collections and curation. We do this through meetings, training, conferences and publications. GCG was founded in 1974, has an international membership and is affiliated to the Geological Society of London."

The Geological Society of London

"The Geological Society of London was founded in 1807. It is the UK national society for geoscience, and the oldest geological society in the world. The Society provides a wide range of professional and scientific support to around 9500 Fellows (members), about 2000 of whom live overseas. More than 2000 Fellows are also Chartered Geologists."

Geological Society Education & Careers page.

Geologists' Association (GA)

"The Geologists' Association (GA) exists for all geologists and earth scientists, whether professional or amateur. It acts as a forum for the exchange of information, and it is a way for enthusiasts of all ages to meet people with similar interests."

International Geoscience Education Organisation (IGEO)

"The aims of the International Geoscience Education Organisation (IGEO) are to promote geoscience education internationally at all levels, to encourage developments raising public awareness of geoscience, particularly amongst younger people and to work for enhancement of the quality of geoscience education internationally."

National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT)

"The National Association of Geoscience Teachers works to raise the quality of and emphasis on teaching the geosciences at all levels. We count among our members K-12 teachers and college and university faculty as well as educators working with the general public through outlets such as museums and science centers. NAGT's purpose is to foster improvement in the teaching of the earth sciences at all levels of formal and informal instruction, to emphasize the cultural significance of the earth sciences and to disseminate knowledge in this field to the general public. In support of its mission, NAGT organizes the technical program in geoscience education at every Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, and in this context also sponsors numerous technical sessions, workshops, and field trips. NAGT also publishes the Journal of Geoscience Education which has become a definitive source for high quality research about teaching and learning in the geosciences. In addition, the organization fosters advances in education by means of scholarships for students attending field camp, professional development workshops for geoscience faculty, and its Distinguished Speaker Series."

Scottish Earth Science Education Forum (SESEF)

"The Scottish Earth Science Education Forum (SESEF) is an association of educators and scientists established to promote understanding of planet Earth in Scottish schools and colleges."

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Earth Science Learning & Teaching Events and Publications

Events

Earth Science Teachers' Association Annual Conference (Southamton, 18-19th September 2009. Keynote Speaker: Dr Iain Stewart)

The International Geoscience Education Organisation convenes an international conference approximately once every four years. The next conference is to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa in July/August 2010.

Education session are regularly included within the following conferences:

Publications

From the GEES Subject Centre:

Guide: Designing Effective Fieldwork for the Environmental and Natural Sciences: This GEES guide, written by John Maskall and Alison Stokes (University of Plymouth) is available to download from the website or can be obtained in hard copy by emailing info@gees.ac.uk

Guide: Teaching Geoscience Through Fieldwork: This GEES guide, written by Rob Butler (University of Aberdeen) is available to download from the website or can be obtained in hard copy by emailing info@gees.ac.uk

Report: Employer Engagement in the UK Earth Sciences - June 08 (pdf file 164kB)

Report: UK Earth Science Recruitment / Outreach Strategies Survey (July 09 - pdf 134kB)

Earth Science Senior Advisors' Annual Report 2008-09 (July 09 - pdf 258kB)

Planet

"Planet is the bi-annual publication of the GEES Subject Centre. Its aims are to Identify and disseminate good practice in learning and teaching across the three disciplines of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences and present examples and case studies in a "magazine" format; Provide a forum for the discussion of ideas about learning and teaching in the three discipline communities; and Provide information for readers on Subject Centre activities and on related resources, conferences and educational developments."

 

Others:

Journal of Geoscience Education

"The Journal of Geoscience Education (JGE) is the premier peer-reviewed publication for geoscience education research at the undergraduate and pre-college levels. JGE is the publication of record for NAGT, and serves as the only international forum for the publication of research concerning the pedagogy, assessment, and philosophy of teaching and learning about the geosciences. JGE is published five times per year in January, March, May, September and November. Each issue typically consists of between six and 10 research papers as well as recurring columns on topics such as educational research, mathematical geology, precollege education, and common geological misconceptions. JGE also frequently sponsors Special Issues on important emerging topics such as Teaching in the Field and Teaching Quantitative Skills."

Teaching Earth Sciences

"Teaching Earth Sciences is the ESTA in-house magazine. It contains articles on classroom, laboratory and field teaching, news and resources, curriculum updates, book and website reviews and more. We aim to publish four issues per year, at least one of which focuses on the Annual Course and Conference."

BS 8848: a specification for the provision of visits, fieldwork, expeditions, and adventurous activities outside the UK: The amended version of BS 8848 has now been published and is available for purchase via the BSI website. Known as BS 8848:2007 + A1:2009 it supersedes BS 8848:2007, which has now been withdrawn. It includes the recommendations made as a result of the recent review, some clarification on assessing third party providers, and a helpful self-assessment checklist. Discounts are available for charitable, educational and public sector organisations. For HE
info4education or Athens subscribers access to BS 8848:2007 + A1:2009 should be available through institutional libraries.

Earth Science Literacy Document: the National Science Foundation in the USA has published a draft document which aims to provide a clear and concise summary of the fundamental ideas in Earth science for policy makers, educators, students, and the general public.

 

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The Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences,
Buckland House, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
Email: info@gees.ac.uk Tel: ++44 1752 584529 Fax: ++44 1752 584880