INTRODUCTORY PHYSICAL GEOLOGY IN THE NORTHERN
ROCKIES: AN INQUIRY-BASED FIELD COURSE FOR INCOMING
FIRST-YEAR COLLEGE STUDENTS
Strasser, Jeffrey C. & Wolf, Michael B.
Department of Geology, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL 61201
For eleven consecutive years, the Augustana Geology Department has
offered a unique 3-credit introductory physical geology course taught in the
Rockies of Wyoming. We designed our itinerary to be logistically and financially
feasible in a two-week trip, while maximizing the geological variety in the field.
Enrollment is limited to 16 incoming first-year students, and the course is offered
in early August, so the experience serves also as an orientation to the social and
academic environments of college. By challenging our introductory students to
interpret the geologic history from outcrops, we emphasize observations, creative
thinking, and problem solving over memorization. This course has been
instrumental in attracting motivated students to our department early in their
college experience. Moreover, students who take this course become better
scientists by grappling with the inherent uncertainties of the inquiry process. The
course has a reputation of being academically rigorous but fun. We have seen
friendships develop during this experience that have lasted throughout their
college years. The college administration supports our efforts, holding the course
as a model for summer offerings by other departments. Our admissions office has
promoted the program to prospective students, using it as a tool to help attract
students to the college. The course is cost-prohibitive for some students, but we
keep operating costs low by camping, and the department subsidizes the trip. This
experience is an ideal way for students to begin the college experience while
developing skills of scientific inquiry and learning physical geology.
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