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Welcome to my website!  I am fortunate that I have been able to spend my entire career teaching about things that I love. I am an outdoor enthusiast and my hobbies include spelunking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, mountain biking, rock hounding, orienteering and geocaching.  Whoever said science is boring is out of their minds!! Here are  PICTURES FROM SOME OF MY ADVENTURES                                                         



Christopher Visco 4 Gale Lane
Patchogue, New York 11772
(631) 475-1358                    cvisco@optonline.net

FORMAL EDUCATION

May 1977,  M.A. in Geological Sciences,  State University of New York at Binghamton. Specialization in coastal and environmental geology.  G.P.A. 3.7

Master's Thesis: The geomorphic effects of off-road vehicles on the beach, Fire Island, New York.  Research supported by grants from the New York State Sea Grant Office and the Solid Earth Geology Center.

December 1975,  B.S. in Liberal Arts Geology and Secondary Education Earth Science, State University College at Oneonta,  New York.  G.P.A. 3.26

New York State Teaching Certificate,  Earth Science,  Biology,  General Science,
grades 7 -12

CONTINUING EDUCATION
Earthworks Participant, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Boulder, CO, summer 2007
Astrobiology Science Institute, SETI Institute, July 2005
Coastal Environments of Long Island, Sachem Teacher Center, Fall 1994
Environmental Science and the Classroom, Sachem Teacher Center, Spring 1994
Authentic Portfolio Assessment, Sachem Teacher Center, Fall 1993
Environmental Issues of Long Island, Sachem Teacher Center, Spring 1993
Logowriter in the Classroom, Trinity College, Spring 1993
Science on Trial-Science Under Siege, Sachem Teacher Center, Fall 1992
Fieldtrips as an Educational Tool, Sachem Teacher Center, Spring 1992
Anatomy and Physiology, Suffolk Community College, Fall/Spring 1991
Cooperative Learning, C.W. Post College, Fall 1990
Greenhouse Effect and Global Change, Marine Science Research Center, S.U.N.Y. at
     Stony Brook, Fall 1989
Ecology of a Long Island Winter, S.C.O.P.E., Spring 1989
Lunar Sample Certification Conference, NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center,  Greenbelt,
     Maryland, December 1987
Space Shuttle Launch and Conference, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, November 1983
Marine Environment of Long Island, Marine Science Research Center, S.U.N.Y. at
     Stony Brook, July 1980
Energy Awareness Information Institute, Polytechnic Institute of New York, August 1979
Critical Choices in Energy, State University of New York at Brockport, June 1978
Apollo 17 Launch and Conference, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, December 1972

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Suffolk Community College, Adjunct Professor, Earth and Space Sciences. Fall 2009 - Present

Sachem High School, Sachem Public School District.   Earth Science. Advanced Placement Environmental Science, Astronomy, Honors Earth Science.  September 1984 - 2010

California State University, Monterey, Online Instructor, Professional Development Courses. 2005-Present.

Dowling College.   Inservice Online Instructor. Dinosaurs, Meteorology,  Teaching Methods.  2003-Present.

Sachem Teacher Center, Inservice Online Instructor. Geology, Oceanography, Meteorology, Paleontology, Computers (Internet), Teaching Methods. 1991 - Present.

S.C.O.P.E. , Inservice Online Instructor. Geology, Oceanography, Meteorology, Paleontology. 1985 - Present.

College of  New Rochelle, Adjunct Professor.  Dinosaur and Geologic Studies, Computers (Internet). Teaching Methods.  1992 - 1998.

Sachem School District, Summer Enrichment Program.  Space Exploration, Dinosaurs. Summer 1985 - 1989.

Nassau Community College, Adjunct Professor. Geological and Environmental Studies. 1980 -1985.

Patchogue-Medford School District, Continuing Education. Computer Programming. 1985 - 1990.

Dowling College, Adjunct Professor. Marine Science. 1984 - 1985.

Robert Frost Junior High School, Deer Park Public School District. General Science, Earth Science. September 1983 - June 1984.

McCleary Junior High School, East Meadow Public School District. Regents Earth Science. September 1981 - June 1982.

Holy Family Diocesan High School. Environmental Science, Regents Earth Science, General Earth Science. February 1978 - June 1981.

RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE 

Barrons, Reviewer of Painless Earth Science(2009)

Barrons, Reviewer of Advanced Placement Environmental Science Review Book (2007)

Sachem Teacher Center, Online Inservice Education Consultant. (2002-present)

United States Geological Survey, Map Annotation Project (1996 - present)

Earth Tutor, Project Reviewer (2005)

Video Project, Goldman Environmental Ethics Curriculum Reviewer (March 2005)

Member New York State Teacher Certification Examination Review Committee for Earth Science (2003)

NASA Astrobiology Institute, Field Tester of Astrobiology Poster Activities (2003)

Research and Education Association, Technical Editor, AP Environmental Science Practice Tests (2003)

Laurel Hill School, Earth Science Consultant (2001)

Member National Review Team, Geoscience Education Through Intelligent Tutors (1997)

Field Tester, Snow Science Activities, Winter Curriculum Project, SUNY at Oswego (1987)
Reviewer for National Earth Science Test,  American Geological Institute (1986)

Environmental Analyst, Town of Smithtown, New York (1982-1983)

RESEARCH AND PROJECTS

· Tree Rings as Indicators of Climate Change on Long Island. Funded by a LINC-IT Technology Grant (2000)
· Environmental Science Website. Funded by a Sachem Teacher’s Center Grant (2000)
· Careers in Earth Science. Funded by a  Sachem Teacher’s Center Grant (1999)
· Earth Science Sites on the World Wide Web, A Student Guide.  Funded by a grant from the Sachem Teacher’s Center (1997)
· Weather Forecasting On-line, Laboratory Exercise. Funded by a grant from the Sachem Teacher’s Center (1996)
· Geologic field studies of Utah. Cambrian trilobites, dinosaurs of the Morrison Formation (Summer 1995)
· Geologic field studies of Montana and Wyoming. Glacial geomorphology of Glacier National Park, Hadrosaurs of the Two Medicine Formation, and fish fossils of the Green River Formation (Summer 1994)
· Geologic field studies of Colorado. Insects of the Florrissant Fossils Beds, Mining geology of the Cripple Creek Gold Mining District, Dinosaurs of the Morrison Formation (Summer 1993)
· Geologic field studies of Kentucky. Karst topography and cave formation (Summer 1992)
· Excavation of Cretaceous dinosaur fossils, New Jersey (Ongoing)
· Excavation of early Jurassic Theropod dinosaur trackways, New Jersey (Ongoing)
· Earth Science Demonstrations Video. Funded by a grant from the Sachem Teacher's Center (Fall 1991)
· Mineral Identification Computer Program. Funded by a grant from the Mid-East Suffolk Teacher Training Center (Spring 1990)
· Regents Earth Science Reference Table Review Computer Program. Funded by a grant from the Mid-East Suffolk Teacher Training Center (August 1987)
· Intermediate BASIC computer programming workbook. (July 1987)
· Beginning BASIC computer programming workbook (January 1984)
· Weather Forecasting Computer Program. (July 1993)
· Geologic field studies of the volcanic terrain of the Cascade Mountains (June 1983)
· Geomorphic analysis of the shoreline along Smithtown Bay (April 1983)
· Groundwater quality assessment, Smithtown Township (April 1983)
· Coral reef ecology, Bermuda (August 1981)
· Field guide to the south shore beaches of Long Island (August 1980)
· The effect of acid rain on lakes in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State (June 1980)
· Geologic field studies of Grand Canyon, Zion, Grand Teton, and Yellowstone National Parks (Summer 1979)

 

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS


Suffolk STANYS Spring Conference, Shake up your Earth Science Class (February 2010)

West Islip Public Library, Are Organic Foods Better For You?, (February 2010)


ASSET Technology Conference, Making your classroom green (March 2008)

SCOPE 13th Annual Technology Conference, Making your classroom green (Oct 2007)

Suffolk County Science Teachers Association, Spring Conference, Shake up your Earth Science Class (March 2007)

Suffolk Gem and Mineral Club, The Geology of Mars (January 2007)

Island Rockhounds, Astrobiology: The search for extra-terrestrial life (April 2006)

Comsewogue Public Library, The Geology of Mars (July 2005)

Massapequa School District, Science Teacher Workshop, Digging Dinosaurs (January 2005)

Massapequa School District, Science Teacher Workshop, History of the US Space Program (December 2004)

Garden City School District, Superintendent's Day. Digging Dinosaurs (March 2001)

Suffolk County Science Teachers Association, Spring Conference. Dendrochronology (March 2001)

Long Island Geologists Meeting. Stalking the East Coast Dinosaur (September 1999)

SUNY Stony Brook, Department of Geosciences Earth Science Project, Developing Long Term Research Projects (October 1997)

Suffolk County Science Teachers Winter Conference, Improving Earth Science Education (November 1996)

Suffolk County Libraries. Digging Dinosaurs (2003-1993)

Boy Scouts of America, Troop 454. Digging Dinosaurs (April 1993)

Suffolk County Gem and Mineral Club. Stalking the East Coast Dinosaur (November 1992)

New York State United Teachers Educational Conference. The South Shore of Long Island - Man versus Nature (Fall 1990)

Suffolk County Science Teachers Association Spring Conference. Time Travel: Fact or Fiction ? (Spring 1990)

Comsewogue Public Library. Our Endangered Planet: What on Earth are we doing? (February 1990)

Suffolk County Science Teachers Association Spring Conference. Space: The Final Frontier (Spring 1989)

Suffolk County Gem and Mineral Club. Mineral Identification (Spring 1989)

Boy Scouts, Setauket Chapter. Model Rocketry (March 1988)

Suffolk County Libraries. Long Island's Drinking Water (September 1987)

Science Teachers Association of  New York State Annual Conference. Shoreline Erosion on the South Shore of Long Island (Fall 1986)

Babylon Public Library. History of the United States Manned Space Program. (April 1984)

Teleprompter Saturday Night, Cable Television Talk Show. Toxic Waste Disposal on Long Island (March 1982)

West Gilgo Beach Civic Association. Erosion Hazards on the South Shore of Long Island  (September 1980)

PUBLICATIONS

AP Environmental Science, World Wide Web Site (2000-Present)

New York Earth Science Teacher, World Wide Web Site (1995- Present)

Earth Science Laboratory Manual, Sachem School District (Summer 1994)

"Show a movie", AMERICAN TEACHER (April 1993)

"Hubble was the lead story", NEWSDAY (May 1990)

"Spare that Christmas Tree", NEWSDAY (January 1990)

"Star Trek video series", SCIENCE TEACHERS OF NEW YORK STATE BULLETIN  (Fall 1989)

"Pop science", AMERICAN TEACHER (February 1989)

"Motivational techniques in earth science", AMERICAN TEACHER (March 1988)

"The importance of earth science in the secondary school curriculum", THE EARTH SCIENTIST (Winter 1988)

"Quick quiz technique", AMERICAN TEACHER (September 1987)

"Heat transfer demonstrations", THE EARTH SCIENTIST (Winter 1987)

"Model rocketry enrichment program", ESTES INDUSTRIES EDUCATOR NEWS (May 1986)

"The public perception of spaceflight", SCIENCE TEACHERS OF NEW YORK STATE NEWSLETTER (January 1986)

"Computers as aids in classrooms",  NEWSDAY (September 1984)

"Best defense is good environment", NEWSDAY (May 1982)
 

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Science Teachers of New York State
National Earth Science Teachers Association
Long Island Geologists

AWARDS

Outstanding Earth Science Teacher for the state of New York (2008), National Association of Geoscience Teachers

New York State Teacher of the Year Finalist (2007)

Suffolk County High School Science Teacher of the Year (2006)

Edunet Connect, Web Site Award (2005)

Golden Web Awards, Education Site (2003)

USA Today, Best Bets Education Site (2003)

USA Today, Best Bet Education Site (2002)

Innovative Teaching Concepts, Educational Site Award of Excellence (2001)

The Teachers Corner, Award of Excellence for Education Websites (2001)