My name is Christy Bebeau (she/her) and I am a doctoral candidate in the School of Geosciences at the University of South Florida, focusing on geoscience education and discipline-based education research. My undergraduate degree (BSE) is in industrial and systems engineering. After graduation, I worked as an engineer and project manager, eventually owning my own company, and I left industry to teach STEM to K-12 students. I reentered the university to improve my understanding about how students learn and how to conduct educational research to improve geoscience teaching methods.
As a graduate student teaching assistant, I am privileged to introduce undergraduate students to earth sciences and physical geology. Essentials of Geology (GLY2000L) is an introductory physical geology laboratory required for geoscience majors and open to non-majors. Introduction to Earth Science (ESC2000) is a survey course of astronomy, geology, oceanography, meteorology, and climate science. This course is open to all majors and satisfies the university's natural science general education requirement.
Geoscience is considered a "discovered science" because many students develop an interest in it through their introductory courses and then go on to become geoscience majors. I am passionate about making introductory geology courses engaging, student-centered, active-learning environments to help students discover their love of the Earth sciences. I show concern and respect for my students and believe it is a honor to teach them about the wonders of the world in which we live.
My dissertation focuses on understanding the ways novice students learn about geology through thin section analysis of rocks and minerals with either a physical or virtual petrographic microscope. In this mixed-methods study, I employ Creative Exercises and Talk-aloud Protocols to reveal students' meaningful learning. The study is undergirded by theoretical foundations of Dual Coding Theory, Cognitive Load Theory, Meaningful Learning, and the Geology-specific Learning Framework.
I am also interested in qualitative research methods. I am a Teaching and Research Assistant for qualitative research methods courses in the College of Education: Qualitative Research Methods in Education 1, Qualitative Research Methods in Education 2, and Arts-based Research. Many of my publications and presentations concern qualitative research methods and pedagogy.
As a graduate student teaching assistant, I am privileged to introduce undergraduate students to earth sciences and physical geology. Essentials of Geology (GLY2000L) is an introductory physical geology laboratory required for geoscience majors and open to non-majors. Introduction to Earth Science (ESC2000) is a survey course of astronomy, geology, oceanography, meteorology, and climate science. This course is open to all majors and satisfies the university's natural science general education requirement.
Geoscience is considered a "discovered science" because many students develop an interest in it through their introductory courses and then go on to become geoscience majors. I am passionate about making introductory geology courses engaging, student-centered, active-learning environments to help students discover their love of the Earth sciences. I show concern and respect for my students and believe it is a honor to teach them about the wonders of the world in which we live.
My dissertation focuses on understanding the ways novice students learn about geology through thin section analysis of rocks and minerals with either a physical or virtual petrographic microscope. In this mixed-methods study, I employ Creative Exercises and Talk-aloud Protocols to reveal students' meaningful learning. The study is undergirded by theoretical foundations of Dual Coding Theory, Cognitive Load Theory, Meaningful Learning, and the Geology-specific Learning Framework.
I am also interested in qualitative research methods. I am a Teaching and Research Assistant for qualitative research methods courses in the College of Education: Qualitative Research Methods in Education 1, Qualitative Research Methods in Education 2, and Arts-based Research. Many of my publications and presentations concern qualitative research methods and pedagogy.