Resources for Teaching Structural Geology

Google Earth in structural geology

Google Earth is a fantastic resource for teaching geologic map interpretation and geologic mapping. Check out our hot ideas for how to teach geologic map interpretation with Google Earth, and visit our growing collection of great Google Earth locations for structural geology.

Enigmas in structural geology

Members of the TSG email list have offered their thoughts on what the biggest enigmas are currently in structural geology. View the enigmas, or, if you would like to offer one of your own or add a comment to one already posted, please send an e-mail to Barb Tewksbury at btewksbu@hamilton.edu.

Resources for classroom, lab, and field

The resource collections listed below reflect the contributions of faculty members from across the country. Do you have classroom or field activities, articles, maps or other materials that you like to teach with? Please add your teaching materials to the collections,

• Activities & Assignments, as well as out-of-class activities and projects.
• Visualizations that can be useful in teaching students about structural geology.
  
• Articles accessible to undergraduate structural geology students.
• Geologic Maps useful for teaching structural geology.
• Applications of Structural Geology to Other Disciplines that illustrate the relevance of structural geology to geological problem-solving in other disciplines.
• Computer Applications useful for teaching structural geology or that provide support for teaching structural geology.
• Analog Materials that can be useful for helping students understand the behavior of materials and the development of structures.
• Internet Resources useful for teaching structural geology.
• Handouts and supporting materials from our 2004 workshop presentations and discussions

Teaching with GeoPads

GeoPads are rugged laptop and palmtop computers with integrated GPS, GIS, data management, and note-taking software that provide geoscientists with a fundamentally new way to map and collect other data in the field. This web-based teachers' guide provides practical advice on selecting software and hardware, accessing and formatting data, and designing and implementing a wide variety of instructional activities. Our goal is to minimize the technical, pedagogical, and practical barriers that make it difficult for novice users to efficiently and effectively use this technology in field instruction. So, if you are considering using this new technology in your own field instruction programs this site is for you!

Geophysical Instrument Registry

If you conduct research using geophysical equipment and would like to share access to the equipment at your institution, or if you would like to find access to instruments at other institutions, please check out the Geophysical Instrument Registry. Please encourage your colleagues to register their instruments.

Registry of Analytical Equipment

If you conduct research involving geochemical analytical equipment and would like to gain access to analytical equipment at another institution or would like to list your own equipment for access by others, please visit our registry of geochemical analytical equipment.

Presentations from the Teaching Structural Geology workshop

During the summer of 2004, 70 structural geologists from around the country met for a week-long workshop to explore best practices in teaching structural geology. Download handouts and supporting materials from workshop presentations and discussions or view the workshop program.

Survey of textbooks and topics in structural geology courses

Download the results of 2004 faculty surveys on what textbooks and lab manuals are used in structural geology courses (Excel 10kB Jun15 04) and on what topics are taught in structural geology courses (Excel 21kB Jun15 04).

Working groups

We established working groups at the summer 2004 workshop in key areas of structural geology. Working groups are tasked with collecting and developing new materials for teaching structural geology. If you would like to join a working group, please contact Barbara Tewksbury at Hamilton College (btewksbu@hamilton.edu)

Field trip safety

Is your department thinking about developing field trip policy documents and forms? If so, we have some sample forms plus a short rationale for adopting policies to address the issue of the risks inherent in taking students into the field.

Email List discussions

Join our email list to take part in discussions with colleagues who teach structural geology and to read past discussions.

Presentations from GSA 2004 Topical Session on Teaching Structural Geology in the 21st Century

Download abstracts, Powerpoint presentations, and posters from the session at the GSA annual national meeting in Denver in November, 2004.