"ZirChron" Virtual Zircon Analysis App
Mark Schmitz, Boise State University
This web-based app is designed to help students evaluate a radioisotopic age and its uncertainty based upon the collection of data, the application of statistics, and the interpretation of geological and analytical ...

Learning Assessment #1 - Plate Tectonics
Michelle Speta, University of Alberta; Leslie Reid, University of Calgary
An in-class activity that tests students' understanding of the basic concepts of plate tectonics.

Student Field Guide
Katherine Boggs, Mount Royal University
This activity was inspired by the "Pet Rock" project of Daryl Henry. I developed this activity to be a capstone experience for our students. During the fall 4th year field trip, students are responsible ...

Maxwell Behavior of Cake
Christie Rowe, McGill University
Uses 3 points of entry to introduce students to viscoelastic rheology: A hands-on exercise with cake as the deformable material, an accessible example of an artificial material, and using literature to apply the ...

The News Hour
George Davis, The University of Arizona
An activity that I successfully used twice in teaching Active Tectonics is one I call "The News Hour," patterned after the PBS New Hour. I generated the idea out of concern that active tectonics sets of ...

What is it?
Geoffrey Pignotta, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
This classroom activity involves students interpreting geologic structures presented in photos during lecture. Photos are shown either after topics or towards the end of class and one student is called upon to ...

Crust-Busting Faults
George Davis, The University of Arizona
Students independently research a major ancient or active regional fault, and cogently describe map and cross sectional characteristics, kinematics, mechanics, and plate tectonic significance. They present results ...

Assesing the angle of subduction using GeoMapApp
Rory McFadden, Carleton College
This activity has students determine the angle of subduction using GeoMapApp. Students use datasets available within GeoMapApp to examine the influence of the age of oceanic lithosphere and convergence rate on the ...

Exercise on the Mesozoic/Cenozoic Development of the North American Cordillera
Steven Wojtal, Oberlin College
This assignment is intended to have students use the map reading skills they have learned in previous labs and their understanding of the lower crust and upper mantle derived from classroom lectures and ...

Global Topography and Tectonic Plates
David Greene, Denison University
The goal of this activity is to investigate global topographic and tectonic features, especially the tectonic plates and their boundaries. Using a double-page size digital topographic map of the Earth that includes ...