The Geoscape of Bozeman, Montana

William Locke

Montana State University

Environmental Geology is an introductory Core Curriculum course, capped at an enrollment of 60, carrying both Diversity and Science credit thus taken by business, engineering, education, (only 10% science) majors with 17-38% from frosh to seniors.

No specific skills were required. Students are asked to read the book chapter (in Montgomery or Keller) that bears most closely on their selected subproject to begin to assemble data early. By the time the project is due they will have covered it in class and for testing.

It is a stand-alone exercise undertaken by about 1/2 the class. [I can't recall if it was for extra credit of substituting for a test...]

Research into state-of-the-art knowledge of geologic materials and processes in a specific region; compilation and display of materials, citation of sources.

Prioritization of information and compilation in a form that will educate the ignorant and the semi-aware.

Students worked in groups of three to five to refine the scope of their problem, collect data, organize and display it persuasively, and generate a digital contribution.

This project involved students in in-depth research, thus understanding, of the geological setting of Bozeman. Teams defined the scope of their investigations (with faculty oversight) and delegated tasks to build a knowledge base. This understanding lead to the outreach component – a poster session to present this knowledge to the campus and broader community. The poster contents were submitted in a digital form as well, with the long-term goal the compilation of a printed poster (suitable for the Chamber of Commerce, for example, to distribute) analogous to those produced for the Geoscape Canada project.

As a hook, I would plan to do a brief pretest on the region involving WHAT students know about the region beforehand and WHY they might need to know. Sample questions: Content: How deep would one have to dig or drill to find groundwater under downtown Bozeman Under the airport?? Significance: Which of the following processes/hazards are made worse by groundwater close to the surface? Earthquakes, Landslides... An advantage to such a pretest would be an end-of-semester reflection exercise including the same test as a post-test.

I used this assessment form (Microsoft Word 64kB Feb9 10) to assess the products (posters and digital submitions) for quality and presentation and the students assessed themselves and their teammates. I also had a form available for public comment. Public assessment form (Microsoft Word 72kB Feb9 10)

Geoscape Canada