barry_bickmore@byu.edu

University with graduate programs, primarily masters programs

less than 15

This is an upper-division elective course for Geology majors. Prerequisites include mineralogy, petrology, calculus, and freshman chemistry.

1. Students should be able to plan and carry out appropriate mathematical strategies for solving geochemical problems.
2. Students will be able to synthesize the results of their problem-solving with other work in the form of short, well-organized articles.
3. Students will be able to critique possible oversimplifications in geochemical models.

Course activities are designed to give the students practice at basic problem-solving, computer-based analysis, and analytical writing. Assessment rubrics are designed for major assignments that give clear criteria for different grades in terms of both content knowledge and skills exhibited.

1. Analytical/scientific writing
2. Applied math and modeling

The course major course activities are structured so as to give practice:

1. solving simple problems by hand,
2. solving more complex problems using computer applications
3. writing analytical paragraphs
4. writing more complex analytical papers based on the results of their complex problem-solving activities.

The overall course structure is designed to provide a gradual progression of knowledge and skills that can be applied to the assignments.

1. improving students' sense of healthy skepticism toward complex models
2. building students' confidence in their ability to simplify and solve complex scientific problems, and then communicate their findings effectively.

The course activities have ample feedback mechanisms built in, so that students have opportunities to learn from their mistakes.

I assess student learning via essay/problem exams, concept sketch assignments, and major writing assignments.

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