Processes and Concepts of Geology
Robert J. Varga, http://www.wooster.edu/geology/BVarga.html , rvarga@wooster.eduCollege of Wooster
Course URL: http://www.wooster.edu/geology/Geo200Varga/MainPage.html
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Summary
This is an example of a physical-historical geology course, an excellent vehicle for teaching plate tectonics. From the syllabus: This course begins with an introduction to basic Earth materials and analyses of their origins and distributions. A considerable portion of the course covers "Geological Time", stratigraphic principles and how geologists develop chronologies of Earth history from the rock and fossil record. The remainder of the course is devoted to the history of the Earth from its origin through the Pleistocene "Ice Age". This course lays the groundwork for more advanced geology courses.
This is an example of a physical-historical geology course, an excellent vehicle for teaching plate tectonics. From the syllabus: This course begins with an introduction to basic Earth materials and analyses of their origins and distributions. A considerable portion of the course covers "Geological Time", stratigraphic principles and how geologists develop chronologies of Earth history from the rock and fossil record. The remainder of the course is devoted to the history of the Earth from its origin through the Pleistocene "Ice Age". This course lays the groundwork for more advanced geology courses.
Course Context:
This course is intended to follow an introductory course and to prepare students for the rest of the geology curriculum.Course Goals:
This course brings together:- Geological techniques, stressing the Scientific Method
- Geological concepts and principles, such as plate tectonics and stratigraphic principles
Course Content:
Topics covered in lecture include:
- Earth materials
- Plate tectonics
- Processes like volcanism and sedimentation
- Stratigraphy
- Geochronology
- Crustal Evolution one era at a time
In lab, students work with:
- Mineral Identification with various major groups
- Stratigraphy
- Fossils
- Map interpretation
- Cross sections
Teaching Materials:
This web site is mostly a syllabus including:- An introduction to the course
- Lecture and lab schedules
- Information about the field trip, including a liability release form
- A list of web sites
