Student difficulties in learning geoscience

King, H (2012) 'Student difficulties in learning geoscience.' Planet, 25 (1). pp. 40-47. ISSN 1473-1835

Abstract

A small-scale pilot study with three institutions (from the UK, USA and Canada) tested a methodology for identifying student and staff perceptions of difficulties in learning geoscience. A mixed-methods approach was used with questionnaires, interviews and a card-sort exercise. Seven difficult topics were identified by both students and staff: •mineralogy, •crystallography, •maps, •structural geology, •space/time relationships, •chemistry / geochemistry, •metamorphism. Also, six reasons for learning difficulties were found in common across all participant groups: •terminology and memorisation, •spatial literacy, •problems with maths/science, •abstract concepts, •issues with teachers or learners, •understanding the depth of geological time. The methodology has established some categories above, but additional tools, including checklists and problem-solving exercises are required to better quantify the extent of the difficulties across the student population and to explore more deeply the reasons for these difficulties.

Item Type:	Article
UN SDGs:	Goal 4: Quality Education
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
Divisions:	Professional Services
Date Deposited:	28 Feb 2024 12:25
Last Modified:	28 Feb 2024 12:25
URI / Page ID:	https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/16124

	Request a change to this item or report an issue
	Update item (repository staff only)