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My Curriculum Vitae

Education

Ph.D. in Geoscience (May 2009) University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
• Thesis: Alternative Conceptions of Introductory Geoscience Students and a Method to Reduce Them

Masters of Science in Geological Sciences (Fall 2001) Brown University, Providence, RI
• Masters Thesis: Alba Patera, Mars: New Insights Using MOLA and MOC Data
• Honorable Mention National Science Foundation Scholarship, 1999

Bachelor of Arts in Geology (May 1998) Pomona College, Claremont, CA
• Graduated Magna Cum Laude
• Awarded Pomona College Geology Department Award, 1998
• Undergraduate Thesis: An Unusual Lava Flow in the Carson Quadrangle, Venus

Awards

• 2008 Biggs Award for Excellence in Earth Science Teaching from the Geoscience Education Division of the Geological Society of America and the National Association of Geology Teachers
• 2008 Chrysalis Scholarship from the Association for Women Geoscientists
• 2006 Dedicated Professor Award from the Honors Students at the Community College of Rhode Island

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Counting tectonic plates: A study of college student conceptions of plates and boundaries. K.M. Kortz, S.K. Clark, B. Viveiros, J.J. Smay, K. Gray, and D. Steer, in Qualitative Inquiry in Geoscience Education Research, A. Feig, and A. Stokes, editors, Geological Society of America Special Paper, in review.

Barriers to college students learning how rocks form. K.M. Kortz and D.P. Murray, Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 57, p. 300-315, 2009.

Lecture Tutorials: On the Cutting Edge - Teaching Methods: A collection of pedagogical techniques and example activities. K.M. Kortz and J.J. Smay, 2009.

Increasing student learning in introductory geoscience courses using Lecture Tutorials. K.M. Kortz, J.J. Smay, and D.P. Murray, Journal of Geoscience Education, v. 56, p. 280-290, 2008.

Emplacement of long lava flows within a graben network in Radunitsa Labyrinthus, Carson Quadrangle, Venus. K.M. Jager, E.B. Grosfils, and S.E.H. Sakimoto, Geophysical Research Letters, v. 30, n. 17, 1908-1911, 2003.

Martian soil simulant available for scientific, educational study. C.C. Allen, K.M. Jager, R.V. Morris, D.J. Lindstrom, M.M. Lindstrom, and J.P. Lockwood, Eos Trans. AGU, vol 79 no 34, 1998.

JSC Mars-1: A Martian soil simulant. C.C. Allen, K.M. Jager, R.V. Morris, D.J. Lindstrom, M.M. Lindstrom, and J.P. Lockwood, Space 98 (R.G. Galloway and S. Lokaj, eds.), pp. 469-476, American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, NY, 1998.

Books and Book Supplements

Lecture Tutorials for Introductory Geosciences. K.M. Kortz and J.J. Smay, W.H. Freeman, 2010. ISBN: 1429253789

Lecture Tutorials, a supplement for Dinosaurs: A Concise Natural History. K.M. Kortz, Cambridge University Press, 2009.

Selected Abstracts and Presentations

Reducing Plate Tectonic Misconceptions with Lecture Tutorials. K.M. Kortz, J.J. Smay, A.V. Mattera, and S.K. Clark, Eos Trans. AGU, Fall Meeting Supplement., Abstract ED23A-0543, 2009. (poster presentation)

Introductory Geoscience Students’ Understanding of Rock Types. K.M. Kortz, D.P. Murray, and J.J. Smay, Geological Society of America, Abstract, 2009. (oral presentation)

Promoting student success at a community college without a geoscience program. K.M. Kortz, Geological Society of America, Abstract, 2009. (oral presentation)

Why Students Have Difficulties Learning About Rocks and Their Formation. K.M. Kortz, D.P. Murray, and J.J. Smay, North East Geological Society of America, Abstract, 2009. (oral presentation)

Students' Conceptions of Rocks and Rock Formation. K.M. Kortz, D.P. Murray, and J.J. Smay, Geological Society of America, Abstract 274-9, 2008. (oral presentation)

Teaching and Learning Cladistics. K.M. Kortz, D.E. Fastovsky, D.P. Murray, and J.J. Smay, Geological Society of America, Abstract 311-9, 2008. (oral presentation)

Using Lecture Tutorials to Increase Student Learning in Introductory Geoscience Courses. K.M. Kortz, J.J. Smay and D.P. Murray, Eos Trans. AGU, 88(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract ED33B-1225, 2007. (poster presentation)

Reducing Student Misconceptions in Introductory Geoscience Courses Using Lecture Tutorials. K.M. Kortz, D.P. Murray, and J.J. Smay, Geological Society of America, Abstract 213-3, 2007. (oral presentation)

Creating Lecture Tutorials for the Introductory Geoscience Classroom with Data Found on the Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE) Website. K.M. Kortz and J.M. Jager, Eos Trans. AGU, 87(36), Jt. Assem. Suppl., Abstract ED33B-02, 2006. (poster presentation)

An Outcomes- and Assessment-Based Undergraduate Geology Curriculum: A Chronicle of the Journey Towards Its Development and Implementation. D.P. Murray and K.M. Kortz, Geological Society of America, Abstract 50-3, 2005.

Community College Student Research in Micro-Gravity. K.M. Kortz, American Association of Physics Teachers, Abst., 2004. (oral presentation)

Analysis of the Subsurface of Alba Patera, Mars Using Pit Craters. K.K. Zuromski and K.M. Jager, LPSC XXXIV Abst. #1064, 2003. (poster presentation)

Grants and Proposals

“Investigation of alternative conceptions about Plate Tectonics across the expert-novice continuum: When a wellknown theory isn’t so well known.” Co-PI with S. Clark, J.J. Smay, and J. Libarkin (NSF DUE-CCLI #0837185, $199,593, Jan 2009-Dec 2010).

“Collaborative Research: Evaluating student learning in geoscience curricula that employ Conceptests using electronic student response systems.” PI, collaborating with five other collaborators (NSF DUE-CCLI #0716392, $38,788, Aug 2007-July 2011).

“Using DLESE to Create and Assess Active Learning Materials in the Geosciences.” Co-PI with J. Jager (DLESE Evaluation Services Minigrant, $5,978, Jan 2006-July 2006).

“Pathways to Careers in Science: Academic Roadmaps.” Co-PI with D. Grossman-Garber and four other co-PIs (NSF-CCLI #0442888, $99,997, Jan 2005-Dec 2006).

“Interactive Exercises for Introductory Geoscience Lectures as a Way to Reduce Alternate Conceptions.” PI with J. Jager (NSF-GEO ED #0607945, $77,977, July 2006-June 2008). (Declined)

“Collaborative Research: Validation and Reliability of Formative Geoscience Conceptest Questions.” PI, collaborating with five other collaborators (NSF DUE-CCLI #0618300, $27,410, Aug 2006-July 2010). (Declined)

“Validation and Reliability of Formative Geoscience Conceptest Questions.” Co-PI with David Steer and seven other co-PIs (NSF DUE-CCLI #0512631, $407,733, July 2005-June 2008). (Declined)

Workshops Led

• Reducing Student Misconceptions about Plate Tectonics using Interactive Methods. K.M. Kortz and J.J. Smay. Half-day Faculty Short Course at the Geologic Society of America meeting, cosponsored by the Geoscience Education Division, 2009.
• Using Clickers in the Classroom. K.M. Kortz. Short workshop presented at the Community College of Rhode Island Professional Development Day, 2009.
• Teaching Introductory Geoscience Using Lecture Tutorials. K.M. Kortz and J.J. Smay. Half-day Faculty Short Course at the Geologic Society of America meeting, cosponsored by the Geoscience Education Division, 2008.
• Reducing Misconceptions in Introductory Geology by Using Lecture Tutorials. Kortz, K.M., D.P. Murray, and J.J. Smay. 75-minute workshop presented at the North East section of the National Association of Geoscience Teachers, 2007.

Selected Workshops Attended

• Writing and Evaluating Geoscience Concept Inventory Questions, Houston (2008)
• DLESE Data Services Workshop, Arizona (2006)
• Designing Effective Geoscience Education Research: Qualitative and Quantitative Methods, Utah (2005)
• Digital Library of Earth Science Education (DLESE) Annual Meeting, Florida (2005)
• On the Cutting Edge: Designing Effective and Innovative Courses in the Geosciences, Michigan (2004)
• 13th Annual Northeast Regional Teaching Workshop, Outcomes Assessment, Rhode Island (2004)
• Using Conceptests to Improve Teaching and Learning in Large Classes, Colorado (2004)
• Cosmos in the Classroom, A Hands-on Symposium on Teaching Introductory Astronomy, Mass. (2004)
• On the Cutting Edge: Early Career Faculty in the Geosciences, NAGT, Virginia (2003)
• Starting Student Space Hardware Program: A How-To Workshop, Boulder, Colorado (2003)
• Changing the Culture: Information and Experiences for the Disability Resource Mentor, Rhode Island (2003)

Additional Activities

• Co-director of the Honors Program at the Community College of Rhode Island (2003 to present)
• Vice-President of Northeast National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) (2007 to present)
• Advised the honors projects and independent studies of sixteen students (2003 to present)
• Mentor in the Community College of Rhode Island Minority Mentoring Program (2004 to present) and Community College of Rhode Island Disability Resource Mentor (2003 to present)
• Advised two groups of students to propose, design, build, and test an experiment flown on the KC-135 in conjunction with the Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunity Program by NASA (2002-2003 and 2004-2005)
• Coordinator for the Physics Department assessment strategies (2005 to present)
• Member of the Academic Advisory Committee (2004 to 2007), Learning Evidence Team (2005 to present), Committee for the Study of Innovative Teaching (2006 to present), and the NEASC committee for college accreditation (2002 to 2003)