Geo-Savvy Assessment

Kathleen Nicoll
,
University of Utah
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Summary

I use this "landscape interpretation" exercise to assess what students know coming into my classroom - so that I can pitch the lecture at the right level. I also use a similar structured assessment at the end of the course to evaluate individual learning outcomes.

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Context

Audience

General Education class in Geomorphology

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

writing, observation

How the activity is situated in the course

Intro Assessment (and exit assessment)
Students do the homework on their own, and then I go over it in class. I use the exercise as an icebreaker, and to engage the student input

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

Evaluating how students "see" and interpret landscapes --
what do they understand about FORM and PROCESS

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

observation, synthesis, and interpretation

Other skills goals for this activity

interpretation
writing

Description of the activity/assignment

Designed for an introductory geology course

Determining whether students have met the goals

More information about assessment tools and techniques.

Teaching materials and tips

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