Education

Following my first degree, in Geology from Bristol University (2.2) I was employed by De Beers as a diamond prospector for five years, in South Africa, Swaziland and Australia. During this time I found a diamond mine in Swaziland, which was subsequently worked for 15 years and has just re-opened. After leaving De Beers, I took an MSc in ‘Sedimentology’ at Reading University (Distinction) before undertaking a PGCE in science and geology education at Keele University.

On leaving Keele, I was appointed as a geology teacher at Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, where I worked for 19 years and became Head of KS3 Science and then School Development Officer. In 1996 I came to Keele University as the Earth science/geology specialist on the science teacher training team, following the long tradition and national reputation of geology/Earth science teacher training at Keele. Since then I have been Science Team Leader on more than one occasion and have served as Head of the Department of Education for two years.

In 1993 I was involved in the organisation of the first ever International Conference in Geoscience Education. Later, I was also involved in the development of the International Geoscience Organisation (IGEO), and became its first Chair in 2000. The IGEO has since run a series of very successful international geoscience education conferences. I am currently a Council member of IGEO and a Vice-Chair of the International Union of Geological Sciences Commission on Geoscience Education (IUGS-COGE).

For many years I have been involved in the Earth Science Teachers’ Association (ESTA)(past-Chair, currently Chair of the Secondary Committee); the Earth Science Education Forum (current Chair); and the Geological Society Education Committee (past-Chair of related organisation).

I was instrumental in bringing the Science Learning Centre West Midlands to Keele and was acting-Director for some time (currently, Chair of the Strategy Committee)

I have co-written an A-level Geology textbook (1999) and more recently a GCSE Geology textbook that is freely downloadable from the internet (2010), whilst contributing to a range of other science textbooks and resources.

I have co-edited 37 units in ESTA’s ‘Science of the Earth’ series (and written some of them). Many of the ideas contained therein have been developed into Earthlearningideas, which have been published on the Earthlearningidea website that I instigated in 2007. More than 70 activities have been published, primarily for use in the developing world, but widely used in the developed world as well; they have been translated into Spanish, Italian, German, Portugese, Norwegian, Chinese (Mandarin), Tamil and Catalan. The freely downloadable activities are currently published at the rate of one per week.

I have made presentations at international conferences in Brisbane, Australia, Oslo, Norway; Bayreuth, Germany; Aveiro, Portugal and Kaohsiung, Taiwan. I have also made presentations and conducted workshops at a number of international venues including Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Japan, Hong Kong and Macau, New Zealand, the Philippines and Spain, and have been the keynote speaker at conferences in Spain, the USA, Taiwan, Canada, South Africa and Bangladesh.

I was awarded the Geological Society’s ‘Distinguished Service Award’ in 2003. 

and the Geologists’ Association’s ‘Halstead Medal’ in 2011, for ‘work of outstanding merit, deemed to further the objects of the Association and to promote Geology'.

Keele University made me Professor of Earth Science Education in 2006.

My research interests include:

• the effectiveness of Earth science teaching in the UK.
• the development of Earth science teaching.
• monitoring a national programme of Earth science INSET.
• misconceptions in Earth science understanding.
• the international development of Earth science teaching

Meanwhile, my editorial work includes:

• reviewer for the International Journal of Science Education
• Associate Editor for the Journal of Geoscience Education.
• Editorial Associate for the Association for Science Education (ASE) Journal, School Science Review.

Edwards, D. and King C. (1999) Geoscience - understanding geological processes. London: Hodder and Stoughton. 256pp. ISBN 0 340 68843 2

 King, C. (2001) The response of teachers to new content in a National Science Curriculum: the case of the Earth-science component Science Education, 85, 636 – 664.

King, C. (2007) Enseñar Geología a los profesores de ciencias: la experiencia de la Earth Science Education Unit (ESEU). Enseñanza de Ciencias de la Tierra 14.2, 142 – 149. ISSN 1132-9157.

King, C. (2008) Geoscience Education: an overview. Studies in Science Education, 44, 187 – 222. ISSN 0305 7267

Lydon, S. & King, C. (2009) Can a single, short CPD workshop cause change in the classroom? Journal of In-Service Education, 35.1, 63-82. ISSN 1941-5257.

King, C. (2010) An analysis of misconceptions in science textbooks: earth science in England and Wales. International Journal of Science Education, 31. ISSN: 1464-5289.

King. C. (2012) Earth science: theme editorial. School Science Review. 94(347) 23-24. ISSN 0036-6811.

King. C. & Thomas, A. (2012) Earth Science Education Unit workshops – an evaluation of their impact. School Science Review. 94(347) 25-35. ISSN 0036-6811.

King. C. (2012) Common Earth science misconceptions in science teaching. School Science Review. 94(347) 45-52. ISSN 0036-6811.

• PGCE Main Methods science course
• PGCE Supplementary Studies Geology/Earth science course
• Foundation Earth Science module for the 36-week chemistry/physics Subject Knowledge Enhancement course
• Supervision of PGCE Science students on placement.