Researcher,Teacher, Education Researcher: The Evolution of a University Geoscience Instructor

This case study describes a professor's evolution from geoscience researcher to effective teacher to education researcher. The article details his initial beliefs about teaching, looks at the factors that prompted him to seek a different teaching approach, and enumerates the supports and challenges that he had on his journey. Factors essential to this evolution are early career success in discipline research, an institutional climate to reward teaching, mentoring support by colleagues, access to professional development opportunities, and involvement in action research activities. The case study is linked to education literature about teaching and education research and makes recommendations based on the findings of the study.