Analyzing Student Perceptions of Geological Time Through the Use of Graphic Timelines

Students' understanding of geological concepts has been studied through drawings but work with regard to geological timelines is lacking. Approximately 80 semi-structured interviews were conducted with introductory and non-science major college students at a large Midwestern university. Students were asked to make drawings of a variety of topics involving the Earth system; drawings included the Earth's interior, and features of the Earth's surface such as mountains or volcanoes. Additionally, the students were asked to mark and date major events in the earth's past on a timeline. Analyses of the student generated timelines indicate the lack of understanding of the true timescale of the geological history of the earth. Furthermore, the data revealed a lack of knowledge of the accepted dates of the major events in the earth's past. Uncovering this lack of understanding has significant implications for both teachers of earth science and teacher education programs.