Unit 3: Field Geophysical Measurements
Lee Slater, Rutgers University-Newark
Near-surface geophysical measurements are performed by moving sensors across the earth's surface. Active geophysical sensors transmit a signal into the earth and record a returned signal that contains ...

Volcano Monitoring with GPS: Westdahl Volcano Alaska
Maite Agopian, EarthScope; Beth Pratt-Sitaula, EarthScope
Learners use graphs of GPS position data to determine how the shape of Westdahl Volcano, Alaska is changing. If the flanks of a volcano swell or recede, it is a potential indication of magma movement and changing ...

Introduction to Modeling Folds
Basil Tikoff, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Carol Ormand Ph.D., Carleton College
Students make Play-Doh models of synclines and anticlines, including one of a plunging fold. They use these models to answer questions about what these structures look like in map view and cross-sectional view.

Erosion in a River
Nicole LaDue, Northern Illinois University
Formative assessment questions using a classroom response system ("clickers") can be used to reveal students' spatial understanding. Students are shown these diagrams and instructed to "Click ...

Resistance to Weathering
Nicole LaDue, Northern Illinois University
Formative assessment questions using a classroom response system ("clickers") can be used to reveal students' spatial understanding. Students are shown this diagram and instructed to "Click on ...

Evaluating the Health of an Urban Wetland Using Electrical Resistivity
Evaluating the Health of an Urban Wetland Using Electrical Resistivity Lee Slater (Rutgers University - Newark) Initial Publication Date: April 16, 2021 | Reviewed: August 4, 2022 (see revision history: 2 events) Show LessFirst Publication: April 16, 2021 Reviewed: August 4, 2022 -- Reviewed by the On the Cutting Edge Activity Review Process DOIThis page currently has no DOI, but you may request a DOI be assigned. | Cite thisGETSI. (2021, April 16). Evaluating the Health of an Urban Wetland Using Electrical Resistivity. https://serc.carleton.edu/iguana/teaching_materials/resistivity/index.html
This module introduces students to the fundamental principles and uses of electrical resistivity, with a focus on an environmental application. Students explore the characteristics and environmental setting of ...

Feedback Loops
Alexandra Davatzes, Temple University
This assignment requires students to use analogical reasoning to identify the key attributes, the causal structure, that make a feedback loop positive (by amplifying/accelerating the effect) or negative (by ...

Analyzing High Resolution Topography with TLS and SfM
Analyzing High Resolution Topography with TLS and SfM Bruce Douglas (Indiana University-Bloomington) Kate Shervais (UNAVCO) Chris Crosby (EarthScope Consortium) With contributions from Yonathon Admassu, J. Ramon Arrowsmith, Marin Clark, Sean Gallen, Nathan Niemi, David Phillips, Nicholas Pinter, and students Editor: Beth Pratt-Sitaula (EarthScope Consortium) Initial Publication Date: November 8, 2016 DOIThis page currently has no DOI, but you may request a DOI be assigned. | Cite thisGETSI. (2016, November 8). Analyzing High Resolution Topography with TLS and SfM. https://serc.carleton.edu/getsi/teaching_materials/high-rez-topo/index.html
Part of GETSI Field Collection: Geodetic imaging technologies have emerged as critical tools for a range of earth science research applications from hazard assessment to change detection to stratigraphic sequence ...

Alaska GPS Analysis of Plate Tectonics and Earthquakes
Beth Pratt-Sitaula, EarthScope
This activity introduces students to high precision GPS as it is used in geoscience research. Students build "gumdrop" GPS units and study data from three Alaska GPS stations from the Plate Boundary Observatory network. They learn how Alaska's south central region is "locked and loading" as the Pacific Plate pushes into North America and builds up energy that will be released in the future in other earthquakes such as the 1964 Alaska earthquake.

Unit 2.1: Geodetic survey of an outcrop for road cut design
Yonathan Admassu, James Madison University
This unit offers an alternative application for high-resolution topographic data from an outcrop. Using engineering geology methods and data collection from TLS and/or SfM, students design safe "road ...

Grand Canyon Cross Section Lab
Doug Lombardi, University of Maryland-College Park
Students examine a geologic map of the Grand Canyon and two imaginary vertical cores through canyon stratigraphy. They use these data to construct a cross-section across the canyon and to answer questions about ...

Understanding Polyhedral Diagrams
Carol Ormand Ph.D., Carleton College
Students identify individual polyhedra in a variety of diagrams and answer questions about shared oxygens in diagrams of common silicate structures.

Isostasy Prediction
Nicole LaDue, Northern Illinois University
Formative assessment questions using a classroom response system ("clickers") can be used to reveal students' spatial understanding. Students are shown this diagram and instructed to "Click ...

Spatial Thinking in the Geosciences
Content page from the Teach the Earth portal presenting an overview of spatial thinking in geoscience education, detailing its cognitive dimensions—such as mental rotation, penetrative thinking, and perspective taking—citing key research, and emphasizing its teachability and importance in geoscientific reasoning. auto-generated The author of this page didn't provide a brief description so this one sentence summary was created by an AI tool. It may not be completely accurate.

Geologic Time
Nicole LaDue, Northern Illinois University
Formative assessment questions using a classroom response system ("clickers") can be used to reveal students' spatial understanding. Students are shown this diagram and instructed to "Click on ...

Modeling Unconformities
Basil Tikoff, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Carol Ormand Ph.D., Carleton College
Students make models of various kinds of unconformity: disconformity, angular unconformity, and buttress unconformity. They examine those models from a variety of perspectives and consider how each one appears in ...

Introduction to Modeling Faults
Carol Ormand Ph.D., Carleton College
Students use Play-Doh to explore the map patterns created by faulting + erosion. We begin with simple scenarios and progress to more complex possibilities.

Introduction to Structure Contours
Basil Tikoff, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Carol Ormand Ph.D., Carleton College
Students construct structure contour lines for a "dipping bed" in our classroom and on a geologic map. In my class, this is a multi-day activity. In part 1 of this exercise, students use "topographic ...

Unit 5: Integrated Geophysical Interpretation and Comparison with Ground Truthing
Lee Slater, Rutgers University-Newark
In this unit, students explore spatial associations between the three-dimensional electromagnetic (EM) conductivity inversions and the visible patterns of Salicornia (pickleweed) introduced in Unit 1, Exploring ...

Wakemup Pluton
Basil Tikoff, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Carol Ormand Ph.D., Carleton College
Students work through a set of questions about a geologic map of an igneous intrusion and surrounding rock units. These questions focus students' attention on the topography, geomorphology, lithology, and ...