Plate Tectonics Basics 1

Robert J. Stern, University of Texas at Dallas, The

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Summary

Students sketch cross section beneath mid-ocean ridge and subduction zone before and after viewing animation.

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Context

Audience

Introductory physical geology course or course for non-majors.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Should have been introduced to basic plate tectonic concepts.

How the activity is situated in the course

30 minute stand-alone exercise.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

Lithosphere creation and destruction and associated igneous activity.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Understanding fundamental plate tectonic concepts.

Other skills goals for this activity

sketching

Description and Teaching Materials

  • Instructor reads rubric (Instructor Rubric (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 127kB Oct22 15) ) before class and prints out one template (Animation Assessment Template (Acrobat (PDF) 80kB Oct22 15)) for each student.
  • Students sketch (in pencil) before watching and listening to animation
  • Students watch and listen to animation


  • Students sketch (in pencil) before watching and listening to animation.
  • Instructors can score sketches before and after viewing to assess student learning
  • We would appreciate if sketches are scanned and sent to rjstern@utdallas.edu

Teaching Notes and Tips


Assessment

Compare scores on sketches before and after viewing animation.

References and Resources

Stern, R.J., 2002. Subduction Zones. Reviews of Geophysics, 40, 10.1029/2001RG000108

Stern, R. J. 1998. A Subduction Primer for Instructors of Introductory Geology Courses and Authors of Introductory Geology Textbooks. J. Geoscience Education, 46, 221-228.