GEOL 429 Syllabus
Field Geology for Earth Science Teachers

Objectives | Organization | Grading | Rubrics | Previous Field Trips

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.

Course Objectives

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.

Course Organization

The course is loosely organized around 4 Saturday field trips and weekly evening class meetings or one intensive 3-week summer course. Field trips are typically day-long events, including travel to and from a site. Class meetings will involve 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.

Coursework and Grading

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 percentages of the course grade coming from each of the assessed areas are:

25%	Preparation and Presentation of Fieldtrip
25%	Preparation and Presentation of Virtual Fieldtrip
25%	Field guide
25%	Inquiry-based Lesson Plans

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