GEOL 429Field Geology for Earth Science Teachers
GEOL 429Objectives | Organization | Syllabus | Grading | Field Trips | Resources
This course is designed for pre-service and in-service teachers of Earth Science, Geology or Physical Science. Through field trips, independent library and internet research and in-class workshops, students learn the geologic history of the upper Midwest, discover where in the area significant geologic features and processes can be directly observed and learn how to organize and conduct real and virtual earth science field trips.
Students in this course have a wide variety of technical knowledge, teaching skills, professional and academic experience. The course objectives are broadly designed to individually challenge students to improve their communication, research and instruction skills, scientific knowledge, and computer literacy. By the end of the course, students should be able to:
(1) Plan and execute an effective field trip.
(2) Use efficiently the internet and related technology as both
a resource and as a medium for instruction.
(3) Understand and communicate meaningfully about significant
events in the geologic history of the Earth and the mid-continent.
(4) Design and execute lesson plans, demonstrations or exercises
that enhance or reinforce a field trip experience.
(5) Recognize the linkages between human activity, geologic processes
and our natural environment.
The course is loosely organized around 4 Saturday field trips and weekly evening class meetings. Field trips are typically day-long events, including travel to and from a site. Class meetings will involve lecture, group discussion of lesson plans and exercises, student presentations and technology seminars. Classes are taught in a workshop format, where student participation is encouraged and group discussion is essential.
This course has no exams or quizzes, but relies on four large projects and course participation to assess whether you have met the course objectives. The percentage of the course grade coming from each of the assessed areas is:
10% -- participation in field trips, classroom activities and technology seminars 40% -- field trip project 6% -- performance as a field trip leader 17% -- paper field trip guidebook 17% -- virtual field trip guidebook 20% -- class presentation on geologic history 10% -- lesson plan 20% -- two classroom exercises
Student performace on each project will be assessed against project performance objectives provided by the instructor. In addition to assessments done by the instructor, students will be asked to assess one another on classroom-presented and internet projects. Combined student assessments will carry one half the weight of the instructor assessment for these projects. At the end of the course all project and participation scores will be weighted as shown above and grades will be assigned on an absolute scale where
A >= 90 90 > B >= 80 80 > C >= 70 70 > D >= 60 60 > F
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