This Starting Point webpage is a summary of a role-playing resource called Worldwatcher Project: Global Warming Project. In this exercise, students role-play advisors to various heads of state on the subject of global warming. The web site offers a short curriculum to help the students become experts on global warming. It offers lab activities, computer visualizations (using free WorldWatcher software), ... Full description.

The Disaster Dynamics project is a learning environment for the study of the unique challenges surrounding natural disasters. By focusing on dynamics, this project emphasizes the complex and emergent interplay between different aspects of the design activities and the extreme event. The website has several educational role-playing simulation games such as decision making under uncertainty, complex ... Full description.

This description of warmups offers the rationale and producures behind some exercises in an introductory oceanography course at Winona State University. Warmups are based on the reading for the next class period and are to be answered via email the morning before class. The instructor can then review the questions and be able to address misconceptions in class. Full description.

In this activity, students write an essay on the history of scientific discoveries in the field of dinosaur paleontology. The essays are then evaluated via Calibrated Peer Review. On this Starting Point page, users can access information about the exercise's learning goals, context for use, teaching notes and tips, teaching materials, assessment ideas, references and topics covered. Full description.

Through computer technology, students develop a paper topic (in this case, invasive species) with the assistance of additional students answering guided questions. This Starting Point website builds a context of use for this peer review activity by describing the learning goals, teaching notes and materials, and citing additional references and resources. Full description.

In this assignment, students explore the origin and distribution of oil and gas in a region of global significance. Also included are the geologic history and the socio-political and environmental issues associated with hydrocarbon exploration and production. Students then walk through an online case study and write an essay addressing important points that they have learned. The Calibrated Peer Review ... Full description.

This activity explores the significance and geologic history of the Kerguelen Plateau Large Igneous Province, as revealed by Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Legs 120 and 183. After examining all the source material, the students write an essay addressing the important points that they have learned. The Calibrated Peer Review interface is then used to give feedback on the essays. On this Starting Point ... Full description.

This role-playing exercise casts students as scientific specialists, assigned to a group either supporting or opposing the cloning of dinosaurs. There are 4-6 specialists (or groups of specialists): geneticists, ecologists, etc., on each side. Each side researches for a couple of weeks and presents its argument in class (usually a single class period for each side), and other students can ask the ... Full description.

This project has students model the geologic timescale using distance as a metaphor for time. Each student writes a summary of a major event or fossil organism. The students then station themselves and their summaries along a path within a gymnasium. Each student's position along the path determines how long ago their organism lived or the event occurred, so students can appreciate the scale of geologic ... Full description.

In this activity, students analyze data from a single gage or watershed. They learn or practice basic skills in Excel such as importing data, applying formulas, creating charts, and adding trend lines. The students then assemble and analyze their individual results collectively in order to discover and discuss new issues that span multiple gages or watersheds. To conclude the project, results are ... Full description.