USING GEODETIC DATA TO INVESTIGATE SOCIETALLY RELEVANT GEOSCIENCE PROBLEMS IN INTRODUCTORY COURSES: GETSI'S ICE MASS AND SEA LEVEL CHANGES MODULE

The GETSI (GEodesy Tools for Societal Issues) project is a suite of 2-3 week instructional modules for introductory and majors-level geoscience courses that use geodetic data to investigate societally relevant issues including climate change, natural hazards, and water resources. Created by pairs of geoscience faculty at 2-year and 4-year institutions, GETSI modules are developed and evaluated using a materials rubric, pilot tested by module authors and a third faculty tester, revised, and ultimately published after successful completion of the development, testing, and revision process. GETSI modules address one or more geodesy grand challenges facing society; use authentic geodesy data; and facilitate student development of geoscientific habits of mind, ability to address interdisciplinary problems, and application of quantitative skills to geoscience learning. This presentation will highlight portions of the Ice Mass and Sea Level Changes module. Designed for introductory-level courses, this module uses geodetic, ocean, atmosphere, and cryosphere data to investigate changes in Greenland ice mass and assess the environmental and societal implications of ice mass and sea level change. The module includes a variety of instructional strategies, including gallery walks, wall walks, jigsaw activities, lab exercises, peer instruction, interactive lecture, and small and whole-group discussions. We will discuss classroom implementation of portions of two of the module units, including scientific content, instructional strategies, and assessment. In unit 3 (Warm With a Chance of Melting), students use snowmelt, air temperature, ice velocity, ice elevation, and GRACE data to investigate ice mass changes for several Greenland study sites. In unit 4 (An Uplifting Story of Sea Level Change), bedrock GPS and ice elevation data from Helheim Glacier are utilized to identify the relationship between ice mass loss, uplift, and impact on sea level change. Effective use of these materials in the classroom requires a consideration of existing student content knowledge, class size and format, materials and time necessary to complete the activity, and appropriate teaching strategies.