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This page first made public: Oct 16, 2014
Summary
Educating undergraduates about soil sustainability is central to our agricultural future. Soil erosion outpaces soil production and soil management is key. This teaching module provides undergraduates with activities that explore controls on soil formation and soil erosion in an applied context. Undergraduates examine the differences between landscapes and soil properties in intensively managed agricultural settings (e.g. grazelands, conventional tillage) and "natural" (forested or prairie) landscapes. Using hands-on activities, students develop a working knowledge of how our agricultural management practices influence soil properties. They examine soil profiles and spatial figures to make connections. This soil teaching module culminates with a project centered on making sustainable management decisions under global climate change.
Strengths of the Module
Undergraduates explore soil erosion challenges in the context of agricultural land management and climate change. Soil erosion and solutions are explored through an active learning environment (e.g. physical modeling, think-pair-share, and jigsaw exercises), encouraging critical thinking and reflection. The entire process requires that students develop interdisciplinary thinking skills to synthesize how soil erosion relates to land management decision-making.
Students investigate the basic interactions between Earth's spheres, a key component of which is the positive feedback between agricultural practices and the sustainability of soil as a vital resource. They apply systems thinking as they consider how predicted changes in climate will impact soil sustainability in their local area.
Students challenge their conceptual models about soil erosion and sustainability through the use of real-world geoscientific data, both data they generate and data gathered from existing USGS and USDA databases. In the process, they develop data collection and analysis skills and the ability to access existing data using technology tools.
Students gain an understanding of the nature and methods of geoscience through building observational skills, using charts to characterize soil samples, and working with geospatial data to understand how humans alter geologic rates of change. Geoscientific habits of mind will grow through working with authentic data and translating scaffolded knowledge into decision-making as students take on the role of agricultural "experts."
A great fit for courses in:
- Intro Geology
- Intro Environmental Science
- Intro Soil Science
- Interdisciplinary Courses
- Sustainability Courses
This module is appropriate for introductory-level undergraduate science courses such as environmental science, geology, agriculture, and soil science. It could also be used to introduce the scientific concepts relevant to social science (i.e. policy-making, economics). The module is designed to stand alone and can be adapted to any class size and format (large- or small-enrollment classes and interdisciplinary courses). This six-unit module utilizes active learning strategies by incorporating pre-work, in-class activities, and follow-up homework. Units 1 through 5 are designed to stand alone. If completed sequentially, they culminate in a summative fact sheet that builds from all units (Unit 6). The module could be adapted to upper-level courses in those fields.
Supported NSF Earth Science Literacy Principles :
- Big Idea 1: Earth scientists use repeatable observations and testable ideas to understand and explain our planet.
- Big Idea 3: Earth is a complex system of interacting rock, water, air, and life.
- Big Idea 6: Life evolves on a dynamic Earth and continuously modifies Earth.
- Big Idea 7: Humans depend on Earth for resources.
Supported NOAA Essential Principles of Climate Science:
7. Climate change will have consequences for the Earth system and human lives.
Addressed grand challenges in earth and environmental science :
- Identifying feedback between natural and perturbed systems
- Quantifying consequences, impacts, and effects
Addressed grand challenges in earth system science for global sustainability:
- Develop, enhance, and integrate observation systems to manage global and regional environmental change
- Determine how to anticipate, avoid, and manage disruptive global environmental change.
- Determine institutional, economic, and behavioral changes to enable effective steps toward global sustainability.
- Encourage innovation (and mechanisms for evaluation) in technological, policy, and social responses to achieve global sustainability.
Instructor Stories: How this module was adapted
for use at several institutions »
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Sarah Fortner (Wittenberg University)
Hannah Scherer (Virginia Tech)
