Undergraduate introductory course in geoscience

Students should be introduced to glacial concepts and landforms

We have used this activity as a homework assignment after the topic is introduced in lecture and reading, but it could also be used in class, in lab, or as group work.

Glacial geomorphology: how geologists use glacial landforms to decipher glacial history

1. Visualizing dynamic processes
2. Disembedding: recognizing key features in a visually complex scene

This worksheet focuses on how geologists use glacial landforms to understand the movement of glaciers long after they are gone. Students complete 2 tasks in this worksheet. For the first task, students are given a photo of a field of drumlins and are asked to draw an arrow, parallel to the alignment of drumlins, indicating the direction of ice flow. For the second task, students are given a schematic map of glacial features in Wisconsin from the last glaciation (glacial moraines, long axis of drumlins, and axis of other glacial forms). Students use the map to draw the boundary for the glacial maximum, arrows indicating glacial flow direction, and an arrow indicating the original source of a copper deposit found in a moraine. Students use the given glacial landforms to complete each task and complete 2 multiple-choice questions after tasks are completed.

This worksheet uses the sketch-understanding program with built-in tutor: CogSketch . Therefore, students, instructors, and/or institution computer labs need to download the program from here: http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/software/cogsketch/. At any point during the worksheet, students can click the FEEDBACK button and their sketch is compared to the solution image. The built-in tutor identifies any discrepancies and reports pre-written feedback to help the student correct their sketch until they are done with the activity. Once worksheets are emailed to the instructor, worksheets can be batch graded and easily evaluated. This program allows instructors to assign sketching activities that require very little time commitment. Instead, the built-in tutor provides feedback whenever the student requests, without the presence of the instructor. More information on using the program and the activity is in the Instructor's Notes.

We have developed approximately two dozen introductory geoscience worksheets using this program. Each worksheet has a background image and instructions for a sketching task. You can find additional worksheets by searching for "CogSketch" using the search box at the top of this page. We expect to have uploaded all of them by the end of the summer of 2016.

CogSketch has a gradebook feature that allows instructors to batch grade worksheets using the defined rubric in the worksheet. Once graded, instructors can also open all the sketches and evaluate student work. Instructions are given in the Instructor's Notes.

Download CogSketch: http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/software/cogsketch/