Historical Geology

Pamela J. W. Gore
, http://perimeter.gsu.edu/profile/pamela-j-w-gore/
Author Profile

Course URL: http://depts.gpc.edu/~heritage/anniv/pgorevergreen.htm


Course Type:
Online historical geology course

Course Size:
unknown

Course Summary
This introductory online historical geology class teaches basic scientific principles like evolution and plate tectonics, then reviews Earth history from the Precambrian to the present day. The readings are online (as are additional references), and the students fill in worksheets and do research, presenting their findings as web pages. Dr. Gore stresses the methods (such as radiometric dating) scientists use to determine the information presented in the review.

Course Context:

This is an introductory geology class.

Course Goals:

This class:
  • Reviews basic Earth history, plate tectonics, stratigraphy, and evolution
  • Stresses the way that scientists use evidence like radiometric dates to come up with the information presented in textbooks and scientific articles
  • Acquaints students with readily available easy-to-use Earth history resources such as museums, television specials, and web sites

Course Content:

The topics covered in this course are:
  • Geologic Time (esp. radiometric dating)
  • Sedimentary Rocks
  • Fossils
  • Evolution
  • Plate Tectonics
  • Origin of the Earth
  • Precambrian
  • Paleozoic
  • Mesozoic
  • Cenozoic

Teaching Materials:

This website contains:
  • Syllabus
  • Assignments
  • Lecture notes
  • Many, many links

Assessment:

There are regular worksheets and students create papers in the form of web pages. Interestingly, the rubric for the technical aspects of the web site is more detailed than that for the geologic aspects.

References and Notes:

Both the "assignments" and the "additional references" columns contain excellent links lists divided by topic. The page also mentions a web manual that no longer seems to be available.