Experiments in Introductory Geoscience

Other science faculty, in physics, biology and especially chemistry, have vast experience with designing and running experiments in indoor lab settings. A good, short summary of some of these factors is included in the Indiana University Teaching Handbook section on science labs. Additional resources are included in the For Further Reading section of this module.

Some experiments in geoscience labs involve working with physical analog models. The module on interactive demonstrations and its set of examples provide a rich source of ideas on experiments of this type.

One key to successful lab experiments is preparation - both on your part as instructor and on the students' part. Of course, you will have reviewed the lab protocol (and done it at least once yourself), the associated theory, and articulated the goals of the lab. Selecting material that students will read ahead of the lab is a challenge. Read the writing lab handouts page for further tips on this issue.

Safety during experiments is a critical issue. OSHA has standards for laboratories which you and your school should follow. Most likely, your school already has a chemical hygiene plan and a chemical hygience officer, both of which are good resources. If the geoscience facilities don't have the proper safety equipment (such as an appropriate hood, for instance), you'll want to move the experiment into a building or lab that does. Also, it's very likely that your school's chemistry department (and quite possibly the biology department and the physics department) have written safety manuals specifically for students. An example is this one from Duke University.