Campus Mapping Tour

Helge Alsleben
,
TCU
Author Profile


Summary

This exercise allows students to learn how to produce a geologic map. Students will pair up and explore campus as a "virtual" field area. This works well in areas where outcrop is generally sparse, but decorative rocks and building materials provide on campus "outcrops". The exercise needs to customized to ones individual, unique setting.

Used this activity? Share your experiences and modifications

Context

Audience

Structural Geology (undergraduate geology majors)

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Students should have basic rocks and mineral identification skills, basic understanding of geologic time scale, and know what geologic contacts they might encounter in the field.

How the activity is situated in the course

One of the first labs. Students are introduced to basic field skills. This prepares them for 2 weekend field trips taking later in the semester.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

Learn basic field skills including reading maps, draw contacts on maps, make observations.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Exercise allows students to interpret basic structural map patterns and contact relationships.

Other skills goals for this activity

Use of geologic compass

Description of the activity/assignment

Reading and constructing geologic maps is one skill that every geologists has to master. Initially, this means that we have to understand the symbols that are used on geologic maps. Once we know the general meaning of these symbols, we will have to learn how to measure and plot them. The measuring is generally done using a magnetic compass. Finally, we have to plot the data on a map so that others understand the geology based on our mapping.

Determining whether students have met the goals

More information about assessment tools and techniques.

Teaching materials and tips

Other Materials