Interesting concept

The authors attempt to assist students to develop an understanding of geologic time by looking at the time involved in future events compared to now. The activities described are similar to ... See More

The authors attempt to assist students to develop an understanding of geologic time by looking at the time involved in future events compared to now. The activities described are similar to those used to look at time in the past. The instruments are mainly student self-assessment and an open book question looking at a future event and evaluated with a rubric that is not well differentiated. However, the overall concept has potential for future investigation with more rigorous instruments and perhaps more time spent on developing number sense for large numbers.

Looking Ahead to Understand the Past.

Understand large numbers is problematic regardless of the discipline; finance, chemistry, physics or geology. The method used here, projecting ahead to see behind only transforms the directi... See More

Understand large numbers is problematic regardless of the discipline; finance, chemistry, physics or geology. The method used here, projecting ahead to see behind only transforms the direction and not the magnitude of the issue. Assessments here do not tap effectively into student's ability to conceptualize this. A better approach might be more visual such as building a to scale time time.