ConcepTest Examples
This material was originally created for
Starting Point:Introductory Geology and is replicated here as part of the SERC Pedagogic Service.
David Steer and David McConnell at the University of Akron are creating and reviewing ConcepTests for introductory geoscience courses. If anyone would like to test existing questions or submit additional questions, please contact them.
This collection was created with funding from the National Science Foundation, (DUE-0087894).
Introductory geoscience students may attempt to deal with the material by trying to simply memorize it. McConnell et al. (2003) suggest that geoscience ConcepTests should be additionally restricted to the level of comprehension or application in Bloom's taxonomy.
Earth System Topics
- Atmosphere 15 matches
- Biosphere 13 matches
- Climate 14 matches
- Earth's Cycles 15 matches rock cycle, hydrologic cycle, carbon cycle and nitrogen cycle
- Human Dimensions 10 matches
- Hydrology 44 matches
- Oceans 41 matches
- Solar System and Astronomy 10 matches
- Solid Earth 198 matches
- Surface Processes 17 matches
- Time/Earth History 67 matches
Results 1 - 10 of 327 matches
Laura Rademacher: Environmental Science for Informed Citizens at University of the Pacific part of Integrate:Teaching for Sustainability:How the Community is Using InTeGrate Materials:Instructor Stories
My course is an introductory environmental science course. Over time, I've incorporated more opportunities for active learning in the classroom and students respond favorably to spending additional time on the topics they find most compelling. The incorporation of integrate modules has provided new opportunities for active learning in the classroom. Most of the modules lead students through case studies, many of which are focused on regions outside of California and those could broaden my students' perspectives on these issues.
ConcepTest: Ocean Element Profiles - 2 part of Starting Point-Teaching Entry Level Geoscience:ConcepTests:Examples
Which element could have a depth profile in the ocean that looks like this? A. It probably has a source from the atmosphere B. It is probably an essential nutrient for phytoplankton C. It probably has a ...
ConcepTest: Ocean Element Profiles - 1 part of Starting Point-Teaching Entry Level Geoscience:ConcepTests:Examples
Which element could have a depth profile in the ocean that looks like this? A. Oxygen, an element produced during photosynthesis B. Barium, an element required in trace amounts for micro-organisms C. Nitrogen, a ...
ConcepTest: Change in Porportion of Parent Isotopes Over Time part of Starting Point-Teaching Entry Level Geoscience:ConcepTests:Examples
Which graph below best represents the change in the proportion of unstable (parent) radioactive isotopes with time? a. A b. B c. C d. D
ConcepTest: Radioactive Decay part of Starting Point-Teaching Entry Level Geoscience:ConcepTests:Examples
If radioactive decay began with 400,000 parent atoms, how many would be left after 3 half lives? a. 200,000 b. 100,000 c. 50,000 d. 25,000
ConcepTest: Angluar Unconformity Sequence of Events part of Starting Point-Teaching Entry Level Geoscience:ConcepTests:Examples
The diagram below shows rock units with their age in millions of years. When did crustal deformation (uplift or mountain building) occur? a. less than 60 million years ago b. more than 200 million years ago c. ...
ConcepTest: Cake-Rock Analogy part of Starting Point-Teaching Entry Level Geoscience:ConcepTests:Examples
Baking a cake could be seen as an analog for the formation of a. igneous rock b. metamorphic rock c. sedimentary rock.
ConcepTest: Sugar-Rock Analogy part of Starting Point-Teaching Entry Level Geoscience:ConcepTests:Examples
Water containing dissolved sugar evaporates to leave a deposit of sugar in the bottom of a glass. This could be seen as an analog for the formation of a type of a. igneous rock b. metamorphic rock c. sedimentary ...
ConcepTest: Isotopic Dating with Parent to Daughter Ratios part of Starting Point-Teaching Entry Level Geoscience:ConcepTests:Examples
The half-life of a radioactive isotope is 500 million years. Scientists testing a rock sample discover that the sample contains three times as many daughter isotopes as parent isotopes. What is the age of the rock? ...
ConcepTest: Calculating Rock Age from Parent Radioactive Isotope part of Starting Point-Teaching Entry Level Geoscience:ConcepTests:Examples
A radioactive (parent) isotope of element X is discovered in different amounts in four rocks (A, B, C, D) of the same composition. Which rock has the oldest calculated age? a. 15% of element X remains in Rock A b. ...