Creative use of surroundings on (or near) campus for experiential learning in introductory physical geology and Earth science classes.
Abstract
Introductory physical geology and Earth science classes benefit from experiential opportunities that augment lecture materials and enhance student learning. Often, these classes have associated labs, which by their very nature have a heavy experiential component. Field trips are another way to engage students experientially. Despite this, not all classes have a lab component and for many, the opportunity to take students off campus on field excursions is not possible.
Aside from these traditional methods, what can instructors do to inject active learning using the local environment? Finding creative ideas for enrichment with activities outside of the classroom can be a positive way to engage students. "On-campus field trips" are one example that has been used in recent years in some disciplines (Francek, 1996). However, aside from structured on-campus or local trips, other often imaginative and inventive methods can be employed to use campus infrastructure, facilities, structures, artwork and many other resources to enrich introductory physical geology curriculum. Here we share/summarize these ideas and discuss how students in our classes have responded. Introductory students from all backgrounds consistently report having enjoyed and learned from these methods.- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFMED53D0882C
- Keywords:
-
- 0810 Post-secondary education;
- EDUCATION;
- 0825 Teaching methods;
- EDUCATION