AFM Diagram Quiz

Dexter Perkins

University of North Dakota

This activity is part of the On the Cutting Edge Peer Reviewed Teaching Activities collection. (view details)

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This activity has received positive reviews in a peer review process involving five review categories. The five categories included in the process are

Scientific Accuracy
Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
Pedagogic Effectiveness
Robustness (usability and dependability of all components)
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Initial Publication Date: January 17, 2006 | Reviewed: December 30, 2014 (see revision history: 2 events)

Summary

This is a short problem set I use to determine if students know how to interpret AFM diagrams. I call it a quiz but it is really more of a learning experience. It works well as an in-class group exercise.

Metamorphic Processes, Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria, PTt ...(more) | College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)

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Context

Audience

Introductory Petrology

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

This exercise should be used after you think students know what AFM diagrams are and how they work. This is sort of a quiz to see if they can properly interpret the diagrams.

How the activity is situated in the course

This is one of many in-class group exercises. I use this activity just before I have the students do a larger project involving AFM diagrams (From AFM Space to PT Space, by Jane Selverstone, elsewhere on this website).

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

The goal of this activity is to determine if the students fully understand AFM diagrams and how to interpret them.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

This activity helps students get comfortable with using abstract diagrams to depict real mineral assemblages.

Other skills goals for this activity

Description of the activity/assignment

This exercise should be used after you think students know what AFM diagrams are and how they work. This is sort of a quiz—to see if they can properly interpret the diagrams. There is no point moving on to real projects that involve AFM diagrams if the students don't understand the basics.

Determining whether students have met the goals

The goals of this activity are for all students to get the correct answers to all questions. If not, then we use the results as a starting point for further activities or maybe a mini-lecture.

More information about assessment tools and techniques.