Teaching Multi-University Collaborative Science Classes

Teaching Multi-University Teaching Multi-University Collaborative Science ClassesCollaborative Science Classes

Eliza CalderEliza Calder University at Buffalo University at Buffalo

Dante MoranDante Moran UNAM UNAM

Bill RoseBill Rose Michigan Tech Michigan Tech

John StixJohn Stix McGill University McGill University

EHazEHazUniversity Exchange Program University Exchange Program

in Earth Hazardsin Earth Hazards

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EHazEHaz is a graduate consortium in Earth Hazards, is a graduate consortium in Earth Hazards,

which links leading graduate programs reseaching which links leading graduate programs reseaching Natural HazardsNatural Hazards, especially , especially VolcanoesVolcanoes

Specialized Graduate programs Specialized Graduate programs may be small (several may be small (several faculty;10-20 students) on faculty;10-20 students) on any one campus, but a six any one campus, but a six university consortium, university consortium, becomes quite large becomes quite large intellectually, if linkages are intellectually, if linkages are strong.strong.

Such linkages can change the Such linkages can change the atmosphere greatly for atmosphere greatly for students by adding peer students by adding peer group connections and group connections and broadening educational broadening educational efforts.efforts.




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EHazEHaz links leading graduate programs in Volcanological links leading graduate programs in Volcanological studies in North America, and an important asset is that studies in North America, and an important asset is that Canadian and US students have ready access to field studies Canadian and US students have ready access to field studies and internships at active volcanoes in Mexico, where there are and internships at active volcanoes in Mexico, where there are rapidly developing and excellent research capabilities at both rapidly developing and excellent research capabilities at both Universities and closely associated Volcano Observatories.Universities and closely associated Volcano Observatories.

EHazEHaz has addressed a has addressed a common need for common need for advanced advanced graduate coursesgraduate courses, which are , which are typically offered sporadically typically offered sporadically to a small number of students to a small number of students because demand on any one because demand on any one campus is limited and faculty campus is limited and faculty resources are stretched by resources are stretched by small classes. Such classes small classes. Such classes are are critically needed by critically needed by graduate students to get graduate students to get them to the “cutting edge”them to the “cutting edge” where scientific discovery is where scientific discovery is happening and where they happening and where they need to be if they want need to be if they want funding agencies to bless funding agencies to bless them. Even if a faculty them. Even if a faculty member does offer such a member does offer such a class, it is quite costly in time class, it is quite costly in time to really be at the cutting edge to really be at the cutting edge of any topic that isn’t squarely of any topic that isn’t squarely in the research aim of that in the research aim of that individual.individual.



Important aside: We are Important aside: We are notnot (nor do we aim to be) (nor do we aim to be) master teachers, but instead mainly educators master teachers, but instead mainly educators

committed and absorbed into research and graduate committed and absorbed into research and graduate level teaching/mentoringlevel teaching/mentoring.

• We are always looking for international research linkages and ideal field We are always looking for international research linkages and ideal field sitessites

• We are pressured by staying at the creative edge of research fieldsWe are pressured by staying at the creative edge of research fields• We seek ways of channelling the efforts (enlisting the help) of everyone We seek ways of channelling the efforts (enlisting the help) of everyone

we work with (mostly graduate students and post-docs)we work with (mostly graduate students and post-docs)• We are strong advocates of student initiated or student driven learning We are strong advocates of student initiated or student driven learning

and we use workshop and seminar approaches oftenand we use workshop and seminar approaches often




So how can a multi-university consortium work together to deliver So how can a multi-university consortium work together to deliver advanced graduate classes? We decided to try internet linkages advanced graduate classes? We decided to try internet linkages with an ingenious software that was being used by medical with an ingenious software that was being used by medical doctors to keep up with discoveries in surgical procedures.doctors to keep up with discoveries in surgical procedures.

““White Board”White Board” which can show any which can show any graphic of interest, from any common graphic of interest, from any common softwaresoftware

Anyone can point

The person who is The person who is speakingspeaking

Up to 20 groups or individuals can link, and you can see everyone

www.marratech.comwww.marratech.comTools for drawing, writing, file transfer, pointingTools for drawing, writing, file transfer, pointing

Audio, video controlsAudio, video controls

Using a conferencing Using a conferencing classroom at each campus classroom at each campus worked well, preserving class worked well, preserving class charactercharacter



How the class worked:How the class worked:

Each week the class focussed on the work of a world expertEach week the class focussed on the work of a world expert

Each of the experts provided, pro bono, a narrated powerpoint lecture, and reading Each of the experts provided, pro bono, a narrated powerpoint lecture, and reading material (reprint or preprint in electronic format).material (reprint or preprint in electronic format).

Students absorbed these materials and held discussions on their own campus and Students absorbed these materials and held discussions on their own campus and then on then on TuesdayTuesday in a marratech session without the expert, where a list of questions in a marratech session without the expert, where a list of questions was agreed on and then communicated to the expert via email.was agreed on and then communicated to the expert via email.

Finally on Finally on ThursdayThursday we had a 90 minute discussion with the expert, online, using we had a 90 minute discussion with the expert, online, using marratech, where we could discuss the questions and any detail.marratech, where we could discuss the questions and any detail.

A graduate assistant on one campus did the website and communications effort.A graduate assistant on one campus did the website and communications effort.

Each campus administered its own classes, collected tuition, graded, etc.Each campus administered its own classes, collected tuition, graded, etc.



Experts:Experts: 16 invited, 14 accepted!: 16 invited, 14 accepted!:

Lee Siebert, Global Volcanism Network, Smithsonian Institution

Dave Clague, Monterrey Bay Aquarium Research Inst

Paul Seagull, Geophysics, Stanford University

Hugh Tuffen, Environmenntal Science Dept, Lancaster Univ, UK

Eliza Calder, Geology, University at Buffalo

Corey Froese, Alberta Geological Survey

Benjamin van Wick de Vries, OPGC Clermont-Ferrand, France

Gerardo Carrasco Núñez, UNAM Querétaro

Sylvie Vergniolle, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, France

Jeff Johnson, University of New Hampshire

Oleg Melnik, Institute of Applied Mechanics, Lomonosov Moscow State Univ, Russia

Falk Amelung, Marine Geology & Geophysics, University of Miami

Mike Ramsay, University of Pittsburgh

John Pallister, Cascade Volcano Observatory, USGS, Vancouver, WA

Each expert Each expert reported on reported on current work current work focused on an focused on an important important element of the element of the overall topic, overall topic, using the latest using the latest data (which they data (which they had ready !).had ready !).

• Students in the class -- 60! Huge for a graduate class

• All six EHaz campuses plus three extra

• (Oregon, Arizona St, UBC)

• 80% Graduate students and upper level undergraduates



CRATER LAKEStation #1 (CA-12)(0569200 E; 4745242 N; alt 1810 m)First view of the Pyroclastic flow in Crater Lake. Some variations in the

color of the deposit reflects the composition of the multiple flow units. There are significant differences in the color and composition (90% rhyodacite-10% andesite & basalts). Highly changes in the degree of welding is probably response of the composition of that flows and at same a complex history of generation of flows into a single cooling unit.

Estación #1 (CA-12)(0569200 E; 4745242 N; alt 1810 m)Primera vista de los flujos piroclásticos en el Cráter Lake. Algunas

variaciones en el color de los depósitos son reflejo de la composición de múltiples unidades de flujo. Existen diferencias significativas en el color y composición (90% riodacita-10% andesita & basaltos). Grandes cambios en el grado de soldamiento son probablemente respuesta de la composición de dichos flujos y a la vez de una compleja historia de generación de flujos dentro de una unidad simple de enfriamiento.

Field Trips have complemented each Field Trips have complemented each of our web-based classesof our web-based classes

Field trips last two-three weeksField trips last two-three weeks

Calderas (Yellowstone, Long Calderas (Yellowstone, Long Valley)Valley)

Collapsing mountains (Cascades)Collapsing mountains (Cascades)

Mexican Volcanic BeltMexican Volcanic Belt

Field camping--half to all day hikes, Field camping--half to all day hikes, outdoor educational focusoutdoor educational focus

Course Evaluations HighlightsCourse Evaluations Highlights• >90% found the class effective>90% found the class effective• Students liked access to experts and the live Students liked access to experts and the live

discussions were especially appreciateddiscussions were especially appreciated• Excellent readings of current literatureExcellent readings of current literature• Getting to know other students--bigger Getting to know other students--bigger

cohort group generatedcohort group generated• Suggestions for improving TuesdaysSuggestions for improving Tuesdays

Course Evaluations

““I enjoyed the setup of the class with a general discussion between I enjoyed the setup of the class with a general discussion between universities on Tuesday followed by the more specific questioning universities on Tuesday followed by the more specific questioning and discussion with the speaker on Thursday. One complaint and discussion with the speaker on Thursday. One complaint would be the powerpoint presentations were sometimes difficult to would be the powerpoint presentations were sometimes difficult to follow on my own. At those times I felt I wanted the Thursday follow on my own. At those times I felt I wanted the Thursday speaker to give the lecture with the powerpoint so I knew what and speaker to give the lecture with the powerpoint so I knew what and how they were thinking. I do not know how an actual lecture could how they were thinking. I do not know how an actual lecture could be incorporated into this class, or if it needs to be. Perhaps if the be incorporated into this class, or if it needs to be. Perhaps if the speakers were aware of this problem and were encouraged to add speakers were aware of this problem and were encouraged to add notes (as some did) or to think of this while putting the presentation notes (as some did) or to think of this while putting the presentation together some confusion could be avoided. In addition I really like together some confusion could be avoided. In addition I really like how this class brings the volcanological community together in how this class brings the volcanological community together in addressing some of the important topics, techniques and addressing some of the important topics, techniques and instrumentation in current and future research.”instrumentation in current and future research.”

This This SpringSpring

• Jan-April: Advanced Volcanology Class: Jan-April: Advanced Volcanology Class: Convergent Plate Boundary VolcanismConvergent Plate Boundary Volcanism

• May: Field Trip to Mexican Volcanic Belt--May: Field Trip to Mexican Volcanic Belt--Tepic to Tepic to OrizabaOrizaba

• We expect >100 graduate students to take the We expect >100 graduate students to take the class from all over the worldclass from all over the world

• We will use the “expert of the week” approachWe will use the “expert of the week” approach




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EHazEHaz in the pressin the press

AGU Meeting Poster

Earth Hazards Consortium: a unique approach to student-

centered learning

Crystal P. Mann4, Hugo Delgado Granados3, Adam Durant2, Rüdiger Escobar Wolf2, Guillaume Girard4,

Ignacio Hernandez Javier3, Mara Cisneros1, William Rose2, Sergio Salinas Sánchez3, John Stix4

Spin offs• New graduate class for all the world’s New graduate class for all the world’s

graduate students in volcanology, graduate students in volcanology, plus volcano observatoriesplus volcano observatories

• Volcano Seismology Spring 2008Volcano Seismology Spring 2008• Two professors plus 6 more expertsTwo professors plus 6 more experts• Different funding model to pay for the Different funding model to pay for the

substantial time investment of two substantial time investment of two professors --NSF helpprofessors --NSF help

• Lab sessions using real dataLab sessions using real data• Addresses need for research Addresses need for research

analysis of seismic data which has analysis of seismic data which has become ubiquitous but which is become ubiquitous but which is innaccessible to most volcanologistsinnaccessible to most volcanologists

• Is paired with a field courseIs paired with a field course


















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McGill

EHaz online:EHaz online: www.geo.mtu.edu/EHaz/Eliza Calder Eliza Calder [email protected] Dante Moran Dante Moran [email protected]

Bill Rose Bill Rose [email protected] John Stix John Stix [email protected]

http://www.geo.mtu.edu/EHaz/

mailto:[email protected]














EHazEHaz iis sponsored by thes sponsored by the

PROGRAM FOR NORTH AMERICAN MOBILITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary EducationFund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) (FIPSE) USA USA

Human Resources Development Canada Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)(HRDC) Canada Canada

Secretaría de Educación Publica Secretaría de Educación Publica (SEP)(SEP) Mexico Mexico

Thank you for listening!Thank you for listening!

Gracias por su atención!Gracias por su atención!

http://www.ed.gov/programs/fipsenortham/index.html

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Teaching Multi-University Collaborative Science Classes