Course Schedule

Fall 2009

Spring 2010

Previous Courses

Teaching

The courses I teach focus on the active processes on our planet’s surface! I am particularly interested in how ice, water, gravity, and wind can change the landscape. In my courses, you will learn how these physical processes operate, how (and why) they vary over space and time, how we measure them in the field, and how humans can affect them.

I work continually to improve the learning environment for my students, whether they are Geology seniors or non-science majors. Teaching is something that I enjoy tremendously; I strive to inspire students by my own knowledge and enthusiasm, and to encourage their commitment through mutual respect and high expectations. I rely heavily on field and lab experiences in many of my courses; this experiential or ‘hands-on’ learning helps foster a deeper understanding of the material, and forces students to problem-solve creatively. When answering questions, I try to understand the approach the student has taken and steer them in the right direction, rather than simply telling them how to get to the answer. I use research paper exercises in several courses to encourage students to find topics that intrigue them, and then guide them through the process of finding and interpreting scientific literature. In the field, I encourage students to make observations and ask questions, and then ask them to step back to see if their interpretation is plausible or their calculation reasonable. My hope is these approaches foster independence and self-confidence and emphasize comprehension over memorization. I greatly enjoy working with students in independent study and research environments, and try to guide rather than dictate the path of discovery.