Volcano Lab - Google Earth
Tamara Misner, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
This activity was selected for the On the Cutting Edge Reviewed Teaching Collection
This activity has received positive reviews in a peer review process involving five review categories. The five categories included in the process are
- Scientific Accuracy
- Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
- Pedagogic Effectiveness
- Robustness (usability and dependability of all components)
- Completeness of the ActivitySheet web page
For more information about the peer review process itself, please see https://serc.carleton.edu/teachearth/activity_review.html.
- First Publication: May 10, 2017
- Reviewed: May 10, 2019 -- Reviewed by the On the Cutting Edge Activity Review Process
Summary
Volcano shape is strongly controlled by eruptive style, which in turn is controlled by magma composition and tectonic setting. This lab utilizes Google Earth, which takes students on a virtual field trip, in order to give them the opportunity to examine volcanoes from around the globe, and to interpret the tectonic settings in which they form. After completing this activity students will be able to describe and identify the common volcano types, and relate volcano types with associated volcanic hazards, tectonic setting, and geographic location.
Topics
Volcanism Grade Level
College Introductory
Readiness for Online Use
Online Ready 
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Learning Goals
Content/concepts goals
After completing this activity students will be able to describe and identify the common volcano types, and relate volcano types with associated volcanic hazards, tectonic setting, and geographic location.
Higher order thinking skills goals
This activity involves the analysis of physical properties of volcanoes using Google Earth (i.e. relief, width, slope). Additionally, students are required to summarize the data they collect graphically, and synthesize the information by relating the physical properties of volcanoes to magma composition and tectonic setting.
Other skills goals
Context for Use
Type and level of course
This activity is typically utilized as a lab activity in an introductory geology course.
Skills and concepts students should have mastered
Students should be familiar with common tectonic settings, volcano types, common volcanic deposits and hazards.
How the activity is situated in the course
This activity is used as a stand-alone exercise in lab.
Description and Teaching Materials
Volcano Lab - Google Earth (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 142kB May2 17)
Teaching Notes and Tips
Students should be familiar with how to use Google Earth. It is helpful to do the first volcano as a group to make sure everyone understands how to use the measure tool in Google Earth, and where to take the measurements on the volcano.
Assessment
The exercise is graded based on the accuracy student responses.
References and Resources
To learn more about volcanoes, check out the following websites: the Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program: http://volcano.si.edu/, Volcano World: Http://volcanooregonstate.edu/, and the USGS Volcanic Hazards Program: http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/.
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