GETSI Teaching Materials >Monitoring Volcanoes and Communicating Risks > Instructor Stories > Rachel Teasdale
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This module is part of a growing collection of classroom-tested materials developed by GETSI. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
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Initial Publication Date: January 29, 2020

Rachel Teasdale: Using Monitoring Volcanoes and Communicating Risks in Volcanology at California State University-Chico


About this Course

This is an upper division elective for students who are majoring (or earning a minor) in geology. Students are typically juniors or seniors (with instructor-approved exceptions).

8
students

2 sessions per week, 75 minutes in 15 week semester

Course topics are explored using in-class group work, lab-style activities and field observations and interpretations. Instructor curated readings (and point-earning Reading Logs) are offered to students before each class period to prepare them for class activities. The format of GETSI Monitoring Volcanoes and Communicating Risks (MVCR) module activities are a good example of course activities throughout the semester.
I have used other InTeGrate modules in my large-enrollment introductory geology course, which I had in mind while writing the MVCR module but it was fun to see the volcanology students so engaged in learning data types and discussing the nuances of evolving eruption scenarios and the interpretations and implications of the data they examined.

I have used other InTeGrate modules in my large-enrollment introductory geology course, which I had in mind while writing the MVCR module. Discussions among students were much deeper than I expected and it was fun to see the volcanology students so engaged in learning data types and discussing the nuances of evolving eruption scenarios.

My Experience Teaching with GETSI Materials

I had the unusual (for me) experience of a small enrollment course (8 students) so had to adapt the module to accommodate smaller groups. Fortunately, with 75 minute class periods, student groups were able to accomplish more activities in each unit without sacrificing group size. For example, in Unit 4, I used two groups of 4 students but had each group examine two sets of data so that all data could be considered.

Relationship of GETSI Materials to my Course

I used the MVCR module individually, in weeks 6 (Unit 1), week 7 (Unit 2), week 13 (Unit 3) and week 14 (Unit 4) of the 15 week semester. The distribution of the units throughout the semester was to put the units in context of other topics (e.g. Effusive Eruptions in weeks 5-7 and Explosive Eruptions (week 13) and Eruption Hazards (weeks 14-15). Students had been introduced to volcano types and general eruption styles (e.g. effusive, explosive), but the MVCR units helped provide details of eruption monitoring, hazards and risks.

Assessments

The eruption bulletin had the most varied quality of response. Because the assignment (week 5) was before students had completed other written "summative reports" for the course. The quality may have been improved if they had received feedback on other similar assignments. That said, some students truly situated their report in the role-playing context (one even created USGS letterhead).

Letters to the concerned scientists regarding a possible eruption of Yellowstone were data rich for my students. I expect some introductory level/non-geology major students will produce less thorough responses.

Outcomes

As noted previously, students were engaged in the content and the context of societal issues associated with volcano eruptions. Having taught similar content to introductory students, I expect they will also be engaged in using geologic data to consider societal impacts. I also expect that introductory student discussions will not be as thorough as the geology majors' but it is interesting that the MVCR module can be used in both course types (See Instructor Story of Kaatje Kraft for her experience with introductory students).

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This module is part of a growing collection of classroom-tested materials developed by GETSI. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »