Rūaumoko to Tātai Aroraki - Our place in Earth and Space

Using the Nature of Science : Understanding about Science   these are the aspects that I have seen / experienced in my  host placement in the University of Canterbury School of Earth and Environment (Geology department): •  being curious Is the starting point to geology - "What can I see? Why is it like that?" •  making careful observations,  asking questions and exploring ideas Is the core skill in geology. There are limited options for 'experimental investigation' in geology - the majority of the lab work and field measurements I have seen have been observations, from microscope examination of the mineral content rocks through to landforms spanning 10s or 100s of kilometers. The starting point for many of the investigations I have taken part in or observed has been asking 'what can you see?' There has been a very heavy emphasis on collecting reliable observations - establishing a very clear baseline of what is being observed before trying to explore how / w...

"It's a very intensive week" they said. They did not lie! My first thoughts regarding any learnings about myself as a leader are that there were no major surprises. I am given to a fair degree of introspection at the best (and worst) of times! I have completed MBTI tests in the past, although interestingly I seem to have shifted from INTJ to INTP - of course true MBT believers would say that you don't really change type, so the apparent change is more due to the fact that I have several traits that are VERY strongly 'out of type' - but then "not wanting to fit into other people's categories" seems pretty typical for an INTP personality, so I guess I can live with it. I did have to chuckle when I searched online for information on MBTI tests and one of the top results was a site discussing whether MBTI or astrology were more reliable... On "Character Strengths" tests I usually show "honesty" and "appreciation of beauty...

LAYER 1: Using the Nature of Science: Understanding about Science statements below, what have I been seeing / experiencing in my host placement? Where was I when I saw them, what happened, what was I or the scientists doing/saying? The majority if the following observations fall out of conversations with faculty and students within the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Canterbury. These observations or conversations happened both during 'break times' at university, during laboratory sessions and on field trips. • Science is based on observation of the natural and physical world around us . Geologists do this ALL THE TIME - including visual observations during field trips, examining photographic records of sites and also seismographic measurements. • Scientists critique other scientists methods and ideas . I have seen less  of this - most work is ongoing, and critique seems to be more active during review than on a day to day basis - PhD students decide on a...

Hopeful signs for the begging of the course? Actually no, just a caution that rain was on the way...   

Monday: Te Tiriti Can be a long/ hard process, but worth the effort: 3x Principal Ps: Participation, Protection & Partnership 3x Cs: Confusing, Controversial & Challenging Tuesday - Science Capabilities I    How to leverage simple activities to achieve deeper learning.  Wednesday -  Science Capabilities II  Gathering and Interpreting Data - Lots of air experiments. Observation^3 Thursday -  Science Capabilities III  Mihimihi => SCAFFOLDING knowledge - Using evidence, planning Friday -  Science Capabilities IV  Talk prompts ( reading ) Using evidence, planning + Mātauranga ARGH - so much to think about and process. By the end of Friday my brain was frazzled - too much analysing/ thinking/ reflecting, rather than new information.

After a month in the UC School of Earth and Environment, much investigation has been observed! I have spent most of my time with the Geologists, with a little Environmental Science investigating insect populations. Whether working in the field to formal laboratory sessions, the vast majority of investigations have been ' classifying  and identifying ', with some ' exploring ' in the field and also some ' pattern seeking '. So far I have not really observed any  investigating models, fair  testing, making things, or developing systems.  This is certainly in part due to the nature of Earth Sciences - where there is 'no planet B' and there are often multiple complex and interacting variables, often with limited or no ability to control variables. This is an almost total reverse of most high school science lessons, where there is a focus on fair testing and testing models (" proper science") with occasional tangents into making things or developin...

Almost three weeks in already! In many ways it feels like a homecoming - there are many similarities between the Universities of Canterbury and Leicester. Add to that there is an exchange programme between the two universities, so several of the students I have met in the department were there a few months ago, my host also went to Leicester as an undergraduate, and my co-host was on an exchange placement there last year. In addition to numerous meetings with staff, I've been on a six day field trip (including Waitangi Day and the following weekend) and attended the school start of year staff meeting and a GNS/ USGS seminar/ forum. What have you noticed as you move into the science  community? • What is valued? It is very difficult to fairly judge what is truly valued by an organisation after only a few days of interaction. It certainly appears on first impressions that the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Canterbury are deeply committed to supporting their stud...