Physical Geology: Idaho Field Trip
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Teaching in the Field from NAGT

Using Field Labs from Starting Point

Simon Kattenhorn

University of Idaho

This activity is part of the On the Cutting Edge Exemplary Teaching Activities collection and has been reviewed by 1 other review process (view details)

This activity was selected for the On the Cutting Edge Exemplary Teaching Collection

Resources in this top level collection a) must have scored Exemplary or Very Good in all five review categories, and must also rate as "Exemplary" in at least three of the five categories. The five categories included in the peer review process are
- Scientific Accuracy
- Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
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This activity has benefited from input from faculty educators beyond the author through a review and suggestion process. This review took place as a part of a faculty professional development workshop where groups of faculty reviewed each others' activities and offered feedback and ideas for improvements. To learn more about the process On the Cutting Edge uses for activity review, see http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/review.html.

Initial Publication Date: May 1, 2008 | Reviewed: August 2, 2011 (see revision history: 2 events)

Summary

Optional field trip to local sites of geologic interest/relevance.

Historical Geology, Igneous Rocks, Metamorphic Rocks, ...(more) | College Introductory

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Context

Audience

Introductory physical geology course for non-majors.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Students must have a background in rock and mineral identification, an understanding of volcanic processes and volcanic rocks, knowledge of the geologic time scale and the meaning of unconformities, an introduction to types of geologic structures, and an understanding of sedimentary structures.

How the activity is situated in the course

The field trip is held during the final third of the course, once the relevant background material has been covered in the lecture setting.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

Identification and interpretation of geological features in nature.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

The activity pushes the student to move beyond simply assimilating facts in the lecture setting to firsthand identification of features in the field and the development of interpretations regarding the origins of observed features.

Other skills goals for this activity

Students must answer a specific set of questions on a field trip handout.

Description of the activity/assignment

This optional field trip is designed to augment the in-class learning experience in introductory physical geology by providing students the opportunity to see firsthand local geological features and understand their context in the long-term tectonic evolution of the western United States. The university is conveniently located in a portion of the American west where a plethora of geological features are readily accessible over a total field trip duration of 6 hours. Over a total of 6 field stops, students are presented with an opportunity to observe features relevant to topics learned in class involving rock types, volcanic features (lava flows and ash fall deposits), faults and folds, mass wasting features, catastrophic flood deposits (Bonneville and Missoula floods), and loess deposits.

Determining whether students have met the goals

Students are required to hand in a completed field trip handout to demonstrate full participation. As a result of the large class size (280-310), the field trip is optional and provides a bonus point opportunity.

More information about assessment tools and techniques.