Teaching Summer School

About five years ago, I left a job teaching introductory geology labs (and the occasional intro class) to move into the world of librarianship.   I don’t regret my move one bit – I really love my job.

But I still love geology.   And this summer I may have an opportunity to immerse myself in Introductory Geology all over again.  Presuming that enough students sign up, I will be teaching GSCI 100, “Our Geologic Environment,” during the first summer session here at Geneseo.

GSCI 100 N/Our Geologic Environment
This course is intended for non-science majors who have an interest in their physical environment. The course is designed to develop an understanding of the interaction of Earth processes, the environment, and the human population. Topics include Earth materials, natural resources, geologic hazards, environmental change, and global environmental issues.

I have been reminding myself which elements I need to include in a syllabus (What’s my office number, again? It’s the second cubicle on the right), and trying to figure out which topics I want to teach about.  I have downloaded (but not yet read) an article about using the news media in Introductory Geology classes.  I got to order a free copy of the textbook I will be using, and I’m pulling out interesting chapters from these books that I always said I would use in class if I taught geology again.

I will also be teaching the lab section that goes along with the introductory course.  I will get to play with rocks and maps and other fun stuff again.  Luckily I won’t have to design all of the labs – I will be able to use the pre-packaged labs that the department already has set up.

I’m nervous and excited about the prospect of teaching geology again 4 days a week for over two hours each day.  June is going to be a very busy month for me, because I will be doing this on top of everything else I have going on in the summer.

Since many librarians have an MS or an MA is a discipline other than librarianship (in addition to their MLS), I was wondering how often other librarians teach in their disciplines.  It doesn’t seem very common.  I know of librarians who teach as adjuncts in MLS programs, but I only know of one other librarian who teaches in her discipline.