Structural Geology Musical Chairs

Geoffrey Pignotta, UW-Eau Claire

This activity is part of the On the Cutting Edge Peer Reviewed Teaching Activities collection.

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Scientific Accuracy
Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
Pedagogic Effectiveness
Robustness (usability and dependability of all components)
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This page first made public: Jun 1, 2012

Summary

This is a culminating activity designed to have students interpret structures in hand sample. Enough hand samples are chosen for the number of students in the class. Students are given a short amount of time to observe all samples. Music is started and they walk around the samples until the music stops. Each student must then present a description and interpretation of the hand sample in front of them.

Folds/Faults/Ductile Shear Zones, Joints/Fractures, Microstructures, ...(more) | College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)

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Context

Audience

This is used in my undergraduate structural geology class.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Since this is a culminating activity, students must integrate much of what they have learned about structural geology to identify and interpret the unknown structure they are presented with.

How the activity is situated in the course

Culminating activity on the last lab day of the semester.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

The goal is to integrate their knowledge of rock description and interpretation of geologic structures.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Students must synthesize their knowledge and understanding of process in order to accurately describe and interpret the geologic structures. Many of the samples used have multiple structural elements (e.g., folds and cleavage).

Other skills goals for this activity

Oral presentation of original ideas and interpretations.

Description and Teaching Materials

The only materials needed for this activity are a suite of hand samples that contain structures that have been discussed/observed during the course and some music of instructors choice.

Teaching Notes and Tips

I usually do 2 or 3 rounds of interpretation. I choose a suite of samples for each round in advance and set up the first round of sample stations with the students outside of the classroom. When the activity begins the students enter the room and have 5-10 minutes to observe all of the samples independently without discussion among themselves. Then start the music and let them walk around the suite of samples. Stop the music and give the students 1-2 minutes to make some observations and interpretations of the sample they are in front of. Each student will then present their observations and interpretations to the class. Once finished, set up the second suite of samples and repeat the procedure.

Assessment

Students present their observations and interpretations immediately and assessment occurs at the time of presentation. Accurate rock descriptions and valid and complete interpretation are required.