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Dr. Robert B. Votaw (Emeritus)

Dr. Robert B. Votaw Marram 235  Office (219) 980-6753 Fax (219) 980-6673 rvotaw@iun.edu

Dr. Votaw Retired in 2003
Check out the Tribute to Dr. Votaw Webpage

Education

• Ph.D. Ohio State University, Geology, 1971 (Ordovician conodonts, biostratigraphy)
• M. A. Indiana University, M.A., Geology, 1964 (Stratigraphy and sedimentation)
• B. S. Indiana University, Geology, 1962

Courses Taught

• G101 Introduction to Earth Science
• G107 Environmental Geology
• G209 History of the Earth
• G210 Introductory Oceanography
• G220/420 Regional Geology Field Trip
• G334 Sedimentology and Stratigraphy
• G451 Principles of Hydrogeology

Research Interests

• Conodont biostratigraphy of the Middle and Upper Ordovician strata of the eastern interior of North America;
• Analysis of the trophic structure of the benthic community of the Spechts Ferry and Guttenberg formations, Middle Ordovician, Upper Mississippi River Valley;
• Modern carbonate producing environments.
• I am also deeply interested in research concerning mature reasoning and critical thinking as vital aspects of science teaching at the undergraduate level; and the challenging problem of the conflict between the theory of evolution and the status of creationism in science education.
• The challenge of teaching science in an urban, female dominated population with several minority groups present.
• The significance of student personality types in learning style and necessary adjustments in teaching style.
• Alternatives to the lecture format in teaching.

Recent Publication

• Votaw, Robert B. and others (eds.) (1998) Quick Hits: Successful Strategies of Award Winning Teachers (2nd ed.): Indiana University Press, Bloomington, IN, 144 p.
• Votaw, Robert B. (1997) Indiana UniversityÕs First Annual Associate Faculty Conference: Goals, Design, Results and Improvements: Contributed Papers of the 3rd Annual National Adjunct Faculty Guild Conference on Adjunct Faculty, Washington, DC, 3 p.
• Votaw, Robert B. (1996) The Critical Reading Guide: Creating value for your students in preparation for class: Contributed Papers of the 16th Annual Lilly Conference on College Teaching, pp. 285-288; Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
• Votaw, Robert B. (1996) The Critical Reading Guide: Creating Value for Your Students in Preparation for Class (abst); Geological Society of America, Annual Meeting, Denver, vol. 28, no. 7, p. 164.
• Votaw, Robert B. (1996) A Teaching Enhancement Workshop for Adjunct Faculty at Indiana University: College Administrator Quarterly, V. 1, p. 1 & 11.
• Votaw, Robert B. (1995) ÒWe Have Met the Enemy and He Is UsÓ: Teaching Science to the Urban University Female Dominated Population; 5th Gender Issues in Higher Education Conference, Univ. Vermont, Oct. 15-17.
• Votaw, Robert B. (1995) Knowledge of Personality Types in Teaching toward Critical Thinking abstract and workshop; Univ. Wisconsin Teaching Fellows Retreat, Madison , WI, Aug. 11-13
• Votaw, Robert B. (1989) Black Riveran (Ordovician) conodonts from the Marmora area, Ontario lowlands, Canada. Geological Society of America Abstr. with Prog., v. 21, p. 51.
• Votaw, Robert B. (1985) Conodont biostratigraphic correlations around the Michigan Basin, p. 59-72. In Cercone, K. R. and J. M. Budai (eds.), Ordovician and Silurian Rocks of the Michigan Basin and its Margins. Michigan Basin Geological Society Special Paper No. 4, 196 p.
• Votaw, Robert B. and John Repetski (1982) Conodonts from the Stones River Group (Middle Ordovician) of the central basin of Tennessee. Geological Society of America Abstr. with Prog. 14:291.