Lecture Tutorials in Earth Science

Karen Kortz has been teaching a variety of introductory geoscience classes at the Community College of Rhode Island for ten years and received the 2008 Biggs Award for Excellence in Earth Science Teaching. Karen received her Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island, her M.S. from Brown University, and B.A. from Pomona College, all in geology. Her research interests include geoscience education research, and in particular, students' conceptions of rocks and plate tectonics and ways to reduce their misconceptions. Karen has led multiple workshops, both on national and local levels, on student misconceptions and teaching pedagogy.

Intro to Earth ScienceWhat Do Earth Scientists Do?
Earth’s RocksMinerals and RocksRock CategoriesThe Rock CycleIdentifying Igneous RocksIgneous Rock Mineral SizeSediments and Sedimentary RocksSedimentary Depositional EnvironmentsMetamorphic RocksThe History of Metamorphic RocksThe Rock Cycle and Plate Tectonics
Earth’s ProcessesEarth’s Surface FeaturesWeatheringLandslidesFlood CurvesGroundwaterWater TableGroundwater ContaminationGlacier MovementGlacier BudgetScientific Hypotheses of Dinosaur ExtinctionDensity
Earth’s Interior and Plate TectonicsTectonic Plates and BoundariesSeafloor AgesThe Age of the CrustDivergent Boundary FeaturesSubduction FeaturesMovement at Convergent Plate BoundariesOuter Layers of EarthThe Outer CoreMagma Source DepthHot SpotsEarthquake Intensity and MagnitudeLocations of EarthquakesTsunamiVolcano TypesThe Earth Timeline 
Earth’s OceanPlate Boundaries in OceansFeatures on the Ocean FloorOcean surface circulationOcean layersLongshore CurrentTidesSpring and Neap Tides
Earth’s Atmosphere and ClimateWeather Vs. ClimateLayers of the AtmosphereSimple Atmosphere CirculationPrevailing windsFrontsClimate Change and Carbon DioxideHow the Greenhouse Effect WorksThe Greenhouse Effect and Global WarmingThe Greenhouse Effect and the Ozone HoleConsequences of Global WarmingAlternative Energy SourcesAuroras
Earth in SpaceThe Universe Timeline Representing Our view of the SkyStar Locations Star MovementStar Motion and ZenithThe Cause of the SeasonsLunar PhasesPlanetary PositionsRocky Inner Planets Vs Gaseous Outer PlanetsMissionsRelative Sizes in the UniverseRock Types on Other Planets Volcanoes on Other Planets  Planet Surface Features