Sedimentation of Mud - Observation and Analysis

Scott Brande, UAB

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

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This activity has received positive reviews in a peer review process involving five review categories. The five categories included in the process are

Scientific Accuracy
Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
Pedagogic Effectiveness
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This page first made public: Sep 23, 2014

Summary

The process of mud settling in a graduated cylinder was filmed as a time lapse series over about 2 hours. Students observe and analyze the sedimentation process.

Historical Geology, Sedimentary Geology, Geomorphology, Paleontology, ...(more) | College Introductory

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Context

Audience

Used in introductory physical geology undergraduate course for non-majors.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

none

How the activity is situated in the course

Used as an in-class video tutorial. Takes about 5-7 minutes. Purposes include introduction and reinforcement of cognitive skills, including observation, interpretation, analysis, and short answer response. May be used for individual or group responses, and for formative assessment.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

observation of the sedimentation process of mud-sized particles
description amount of time of formation of sedimentary deposit
may be starting point for exploring implications of sedimentation in formation of beds, burial of organisms, preservation of sedimentary structures.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

entire range of Bloom's taxonomy: from observation to analysis, evaluation, synthesis, as applied to formation of sedimentary deposits

Other skills goals for this activity

may be used for collection of written responses
record of think-pair-share
formative assessment

Description and Teaching Materials

Students watch 57 second online video of time lapse movie of mud-sized sediment settling to form a sedimentary deposit. Students observe process of sedimentation, analyze dynamic change in water transparency, formation of sedimentary bed. Students record observations, discuss interpretations, and record analysis on form for assessment.