Heather Petcovic
Assistant Professor
Earth Science Education

1137 Rood Hall
Office Phone (269) 387-5488
FAX (269) 387-5513
heather.petcovic@wmich.edu

Ph.D. 2004, Oregon State University
M.Sc. 2000, Oregon State University
B.A. 1995, Smith College

Courses Taught

GEOS 1500 - Earth Hazards and Disasters

GEOS 2900 - Earth Science for Elementary Educators II

GEOS 3010 - Minerals and Rocks

GEOS 4380 - Field Studies in Geology

SCI 6160 - Models of Teaching and Learning

SCI 6170 - Research Traditions: Earth Science Education

My research focuses on the area of "geocognition" - specifically, toward understanding the knowledge and skills that geoscientists use when working on complex, field-based problems. I study geoscientists engaged in field work across the spectrum from beginning students (novices) to professionals (experts), in order to determine how geological knowledge develops through training and practice. Ultimately, this research should lead to theoretical models of geological cognition, and to practical ideas for improved field-based instruction. I am also interested in the preparation and development of K-12 earth science teachers, with an emphasis on the role of field experience in geoscience education, alternative conceptions in the earth sciences, and the development of teacher professional knowledge through action research.

For more details regarding my research, please go to my homepage: http://homepages.wmich.edu/~hpetcovic/research.html

(1)     Funding: Michigan Department of Education Title IIA; Title: Alignment of Secondary Science Teacher Practice and Materials in the Battle Creek Region (PI Herb Fynewever, Co-PIs Charles Henderson, Marcia Fetters)

(2)     Funding: Michigan Space Grant Consortium (NASA); Title: Course-Embedded Formative Assessment as a Tool to Enhance the Preparation of Preservice Elementary Teachers in Earth System Science

(3)     Funding NSF Geoscience Education; Title: Development and Evaluation of a Problem-based, Field and Laboratory Environmental Geochemistry Course (co-PI Carla Koretsky)

Recent Publications

Petcovic, H.L., and Ruhf, R., 2008, Geoscience conceptual knowledge of preservice elementary teachers: Results from the Geoscience Concept Inventory: Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 56, p. 251-260.

Petcovic, H.L. , and Libarkin, J.C., 2007, Research in science education: The expert-novice continuum: Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 55, p. 333-339.

Manduca, C., Petcovic, H., and Linneman, S., 2007, Geoscience faculty discuss courses for future Earth Science teachers: EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, v. 88 (42), p. 428.

Petcovic, H.L., and Grunder, A.L., 2003, Textural and thermal history of partial melting in tonalitic wallrock at the margin of a basalt dike, Wallowa Mountains , Oregon : Journal of Petrology, v. 44, p. 2287-2312.

Reidel, S.P., Martin, B.S., and Petcovic, H.L., 2003, The Columbia River flood basalts and the Yakima fold belt, in, Swanson, T.W., ed., Western Cordillera and Adjacent Areas: Geological Society of America Field Guide 4, p. 87-105.

Petcovic, H.L., Grunder, A.L., and Nielsen, R.L., 2001, Partial melting of tonalite at the margins of a Columbia River Basalt dike, northeastern Oregon : Oregon Geology, v. 63, p. 71-76.