Analysis of Northern California's Potential Geotourist Sites for Effective Informal Geoscience Education that Address the Earth Science Literacy Initiative's Big Ideas

Author

Kimberlie Robin Theis

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Clary, Renee M.

Committee Member

Rodgers, John C. III

Committee Member

Schmitz, Darrel W.

Date of Degree

5-9-2015

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Geosciences

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Geosciences

Abstract

Geotourism is becoming more popular and can play a critical role in creating literacy in communities. Moreover, the Big Ideas of the Earth Science Literacy Initiative can be used within signage to address literacy. Because all citizens should have a basic knowledge of Earth Science in order to make informed decisions that relate to Earth Science, geotourism can be used as a way to increase Earth Science knowledge, along with other positive outcomes related to communities' increased well-being. A careful investigation of N=59 geosites reveals that signage can be used to increase this knowledge but that there is a deficit in the number and quality of the signage present at some of these sites. A gap has been uncovered regarding the efforts to teach Earth Science

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/19207

Recommended Citation

Theis, Kimberlie Robin, "Analysis of Northern California's Potential Geotourist Sites for Effective Informal Geoscience Education that Address the Earth Science Literacy Initiative's Big Ideas" (2015). Theses and Dissertations. 650.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/650