Life
in the FieldCURRICULUM VITAE JOE T. ELKINS, Ph.D. CITIZENSHIP I. ACADEMIC DEGREES M.Ed., Secondary Education (Science), State University of West Georgia (1996) B.S., Geology (Biology sub-field), State University of West Georgia (1995) II. ACADEMIC POSITIONS III. NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS IV. TEACHING EXPERIENCE- GEOL 100 V: Introduction to Geology (Values). GEOL 250H*: Field-based Physical Geology (Honors- GeoJourney) GEOL 251H*: Field-based Historical Geology (Honors- GeoJourney) ENVS 253H*: Environments in Context (Honors- GeoJourney) HNRS 300H*: GeoJourney Critical Thinking (Honors- GeoJourney) ENVS 493: Greater Yellowstone Ecosystems GEOL 690: Geologic Pedagogy Department of Geology, University of Georgia Department of Geology, University of Georgia (1997- 2002) GEOL 2360H: Historical Geology (Honors). Laboratory Teaching Assistant- GEOL 1250L: Physical Geology, GEOL 2120: Lecture Assistant- GEOL 3030: Elementary Oceanography and GEOL 1121: Earth Processes and Environments. Student Athletes- in introductory-level geology. Northgate Middle/High School, Coweta County, GA (1996-1997) Assistant Coach: Department of Geosciences, State University of West Georgia (1993-1995) Tutor: V. CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT Target student populations for this field program include teacher candidates, Honors students, geology majors, environmental studies majors, American culture studies majors, and outdoor recreation majors. Redeveloped GEOL 100 (280 section) course to include a group project involving assessment of geological hazards, water resources, and solid waste assessment for communities in the US. The modifications included development of a website in coordination with faculty and staff in University Libraries. Developed a critical thinking course in a format using podcasts and video clips on the iPod. The course uses the principles of dissecting arguments (Critical Thinking) in text and video format to evaluate contemporary environmental issues, government policies on Native Americans, land use and development strategies related to geologic hazards, public lands management, and natural resource use. VI. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT VII. ACADEMIC ADVISING VIII. RESEARCH INTERESTS- 1.) Determining the effectiveness of field-based, interdisciplinary geology classes on addressing misconceptions in geosciences, improving content gains. Analytical approaches include using mixed methods (summative assessments, student interviews and written evaluations). 2.) Development and incorporation of instructional media on field excursions to reduce novelty space. 3.) Assessment of student changes in novelty space, including a new dimension "social novelty". Speleology IX. GRANTS AND FUNDING Bowling Green State University Assessment Grant ($2,500) Geological Society of America, 2001 ($2,000) UGA Wheeler -Watts Fund, 2000 ($1,000) Gilles and Burnadett Allard Fund, 1999 ($1,500)
X. PUBLICATIONS Elkins and Elkins, N.M.L.: " GeoJourney: A nine-week introductory field program with an interdisciplinary approach to teaching geology, Native American cultures, and environmental studies" Journal of College Science Teaching accepted pending revisions (October, 2006) Elkins, J. and Elkins, N.M.L. "Teaching Geology in the Field: Significant geoscience concept gains in entirely field-based introductory geology courses " Journal of Geoscience Education (accepted September, 2006) Elkins, J., and Elkins, N.M. L., "Improving student learning during travel time on field trips using an innovative, portable audio/video system" Journal of Geoscience Education v. 54, n. 2, pp. 147-152, 2006. Elkins, J. and Railsback, B., “Evaluation of the effect of oven roasting at 340° C, bleach, 30% H2O2, and distilled/deionized water on the 13C value of speleothem carbonate" Journal of Cave and Karst Studies accepted (September, 2006) Elkins, J. and Railsback, B., “Caves: Unique Georgia Environments” the New Georgia Encyclopedia. On-line encyclopedia sponsored by the Governor’s Office of Georgia, The Georgia Humanities Council, The University of Georgia Press and The University System of Georgia. Online- May 2002. Elkins, J. and Railsback, B., “Use of 13C values of soil organic matter in speleothems as a new method of determining paleovegetation and interpreting paleoclimates.” in review Chemical Geology. Elkins, J. and Railsback, B., “Paleoclimatic implications of the 13C values of humic substances in kart terrains in the southern United States.” to be submitted to Geochimica et Cosmochimca Acta Elkins J. and Elkins, N.M.L. "Using the iPod to reduce geographic and cognitive novelty space on GeoJourney" in prep: to be submitted to Journal of Geoscience Education December, 2006 Elkins J. and Elkins, N.M.L. "Measuring student novely space on a nine-week introductory geology field trip" in prep: to be submitted to the Journal of Research in Science Teaching Spring, 2007 ABSTRACTS Lyle-Elkins, N. and Elkins, J " Results of the Geoscience Concept Inventory from Field-based Introductory Geology Courses" Abstracts with Programs, The Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, 2006. Elkins, J. and Lyle-Elkins, N. "GeoJourney: An Interdisciplinary Expeditionary Field Trip Across the United States." Abstracts with Programs, The Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, 2004. Elkins, J. and Lyle-Elkins, N. "The Development of Portable Audio/Visual System for Instructional Use During Travel Time to Field Stops." Abstracts with Programs, The Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, 2004. Lyle-Elkins, N. and Elkins, J. "Assessment of the Effectiveness of Interdisciplinary Expeditionary Field Trips on Student Misconceptions in Geosciences." Abstracts with Programs, The Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, 2004. Elkins, J., Lyle-Elkins, N., and Verhoff, J. "A Field-trip to Geologically Diverse Terrain in Georgia to Enhance an Introductory Honors Geology Course". Abstracts with Programs, The Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, 2003. Elkins, J. and Railsback, B. “The 13C value of soil organic matter in speleothems: a new proxy for indicating paleovegetation and interpreting paleoclimate” Southeastern Regional meeting of the Geological Society of America December, 2002. Lyle, N., Elkins, J., and Wenner, D. “The University of Georgia Interdisciplinary Field Program: A Time-tested Approach to Interdisciplinary Field-based Geoscience Education.” Southeastern Regional meeting of the Geological Society of America, 2002. Elkins, J. and Railsback, B., “Paleoclimatic Implications of the 13C values of humic substances in karst terrains in the Southern United States.” Abstracts with Programs, The Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, No 6, p. A-341, 2001. Baldini, J., Elkins, J., Gardiner, L., Hunter, D., Railsback, B., and Holland, S., “Petrographic and geochemical evidence for meteoric diagenesis and a Type I sequence boundary in Ordovician limestones near Pulaski, Tennessee.” Abstracts with Programs, The Annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, No. 7, p. A-332, 1998. Elkins, J. and Hanna, J. “Petrology of orbicular rocks from Buffalo Hump, Idaho Co., Idaho.” Georgia Journal of Science, v. 53, p. 34, 1995. INVITED PRESENTATIONS "Assessment of Expeditionary Introductory Field-based Geology Program" Department of Geological Sciences, Ohio University, April 2005. "Use of Field Programs to Improve Teacher Training in Earth Sciences" Department of Geology, University of Akron, May 2003. “Field-based introductory geology course to improve teacher education” SciMaTECH annual meeting, December, 2002 “The stable isotopic composition of humic substances in cave drip water and their paleoclimatic implications.” Texas Speleological Society Annual Convention, May, 2001. “The stable isotopic composition of humic substances in soil and karst ground water.”, The University of Georgia Geochemistry Seminar, April, 2000. “The effect of photosynthesis on the stable carbon isotopic composition of spelean calcite.” The University of Georgia Geochemistry Seminar, May, 1999. “The use/abuse of ground water resources: implications for urban development and Industrial use.” The University of Georgia Honors Bioethics Seminar March, 1999. XII. SERVICE Department of Geology Honors Program Undergraduate Council The Ohio Project (The Ohio State University, Nov- 15&16th, 2002) NCATE recertification review team (2003) GeoJourneysm, Incorporated (January 2001- Present) XIII. RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTSHIPS USGS Water Resources Division, Boulder CO (October 2000, December 2000- Department of Geosciences, State University of West Georgia (1993-1995) Undergraduate Research: “Determination of heavy metal concentrations in sediments from Buffalo Swamp, Carroll Co.,” GA. Heavy metal determination of sediments using ICP-MS along with field collection of sediment samples. “Surface water nitrate analysis of the Poseyville Creek water shed, Haralson Co., GA.” Nitrate probe analysis, surface water sampling and field analysis of surface water pH and temperature. “Economic potential of the Austell Gneiss in the headwaters of the Dog Creek water shed, Douglas, Co., GA.” Conducted Georgia Department of Transportation aggregate material analysis on materials from site as well as created a geologic map of the NW 1/4 Winston 7.5 Topographic Map (Winston, GA.) “Petrography of orbicular granites from Buffalo Hump, Idaho, Co., ID and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.” Thin section preparation, petrography and characterization. Geological Advisor: Geological Field Mapping: Interpretive Display Designer: Staff Writer: XIV. MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS XV. AWARDS AND HONORS XVI. CERTIFICATION
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