JENNIFER A. THOMSON TITLE III REPORT
SUBMITTED IN JANUARY, 2004
PROPOSAL WAS TO ACCOMPLISH THE FOLLOWING:
 enhance learning by presenting multimedia lectures
 organize lectures such that they "wrap around" learning modules that employ electronic technology
 integrate writing, critical thinking, active and collaborative learning in the classroom and laboratory and
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through electronic media assignments
extend the traditional hands-on lab and homework activities by incorporating computer exercises and
virtual field trips using CD-ROMs and the World Wide Web
expose students to research through digital data (archived and real-time, web-accessible)
expose students to software applications useful in analyzing and presenting scientific information (graphics,
image scanning and processing, spreadsheets and graphing of analytical data, and presentation software)
provide students with the opportunity to deliver scientific data in a professional setting (poster or oral
presentation)
prepare Virtual Field Trips specific to the Pacific Northwest accessible to Eastern students and beyond
disseminate outcomes of this work to the greater geoscience community through electronic/paper publishing
and presentations at meetings
SEE SYLLABUS FOR GEOL 120 – PHYSICAL GEOLOGY – THE
REDESIGNED COURSE – ATTACHED DOCUMENT
EXAMPLES OF COURSE MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES THAT
ENGAGE STUDENTS IN THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND
ASSESSMENT
All COURSE MATERIAL is accessible via Blackboard
All LECTURES are provided in Power Point Presentations using textbook figures and animations provided by
the publisher. http://www.wwnorton.com/earth/ I design all of my own Power Point Presentations and
supplement them with overheads and standard chalkboard writings. Textbooks come with CD-ROMS for
student use and I encourage them to do so. I have made my Power Point Presentations available via Blackboard
in the past but find that students don’t really use them and don’t comment on their effectiveness at all. Some
use them, others don’t.
LABORATORY EXERCISES – While many laboratory exercises remain as traditional hands-on mineral and
rock identification exercises, some laboratory exercises are designed to examine real-time data or data records
from past events (largely accessible on-line or through software applications) to understand plate tectonics,
volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Specifics are summarized below with links to particular sites/software that
I have used rather successfully in this course and others.
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Lab 1 – Plate Tectonics – this “Discovering Plate Boundaries” lab has been modified from Dr. Dale
Sawyer (Rice University), the details of which may be found at:
http://www.geophysics.rice.edu/plateboundary/ Students who have done this largely group exercise in
this class have found it very beneficial. As in many group-learning activities, some do most of the work
while others sit back and watch. However, I found that this exercise really engaged all involved.
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Lab 8 – Earthquakes – this lab has a significant computer component in which the students use software
listed below. I used this exercise with educators in a couple of refresher Education courses that I taught
in the Summer of 2003 – I provided these educators with CD-ROMS with the software that they used in
the classroom as well as pdf documents of many exercises that they can use in their own classrooms.
They were impressed with the visual aspect of the exercises and commented that they were never given
the opportunity to use such a neat interactive exercise. Many of these students are not particularly
computer-literate and learned a lot merely by working together to solve problems encountered. The
biggest problem that I have with this computer-based exercise is finding accessibility to University
laptops or computer rooms! It is nearly impossible to reserve available computer labs.
o Seismic/Eruption: A program for the visualization of seismicity and volcanic activity in space
and time – designed by Alan Jones, Research Scientist, Purdue University. The program, which
runs under Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP, has an extensive database of events. A number of predefined maps are included which illustrate the seismicity in various parts of the earth.
http://www.geol.binghamton.edu/faculty/jones/jones.html
o Fault animations from IRIS http://www.iris.edu/gifs/animations/faults.htm
o EqLocate: An IRIS interactive program to locate earthquakes using P-wave arrivals available at
http://www.geol.binghamton.edu/faculty/jones/eqlocate.html
ON-LINE ASSIGNMENTS via Blackboard are designed as data-rich follow-up exercises to the laboratories.
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Plate Tectonics – see the attached document Students access data from Incorporated Research
Institutions for Seismology (http://www.iris.washington.edu/) and the United States Geological Survey
(http://earthquake.usgs.gov)
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Volcanoes – students explore the differences between volcanoes of the Cascade Range and those of the
Hawaiian Islands by accessing volcano observatory web sites throughout the world.
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Earthquakes – Virtual Earthquake exercise available at
http://www.sciencecourseware.com/eec/Earthquake/ I have used this exercise in GEOL 100, GEOL 120
and amongst Educators. All found it to be quite rewarding and exam questions pertaining to earthquake
locations are answered well. Assessment is incorporated into the exercise in the form of an on-line quiz.
VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS – I have, with the use of a digital camera and image processing software, designed
virtual field trips so that my students can explore geology from their own computers. These html documents are
slide shows that I use in the classroom to take students to type localities of some important rocks some of which
are available as hand samples in the laboratory. The localities of these sites are recorded using GPS. These are
rather time-consuming to organize, but here are my thoughts.
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Virtual geology field trip to Coastal Maine –
http://www.csmt.ewu.edu/csmt/geol/thomson/VirtualField/index.htm
Virtual geology/botany field trip to the North Cascades – in progress
Virtual geology of Spokane – photos taken and logged
Virtual geology of the Priest Lake Complex – photos taken and logged
Virtual geology/botany field trip along the Lewis and Clark Trail from Great Falls, MT to Lewiston, ID
– in progress
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Virtual geology/botany field trip from Spokane to California, via Mt. Hood and Coastal Oregon –
summer 2004 field trip to come
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS – Students are encouraged to use digital photography in their field trip reports.
I have also had students take digital photographs of hand samples and thin sections and prepare web pages
about their own special minerals. Although this particular exercise was not done in GEOL 120, it was done in
GEOL 307. Here are some specific examples.
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http://www.csmt.ewu.edu/csmt/geol/thomson/geo307/shattuck.html
http://www.csmt.ewu.edu/csmt/geol/thomson/geo307/strate.html
http://www.csmt.ewu.edu/csmt/geol/thomson/geo307/martin.html
http://www.csmt.ewu.edu/csmt/geol/thomson/geo307/ausnes.html
Students found this exercise to be extremely rewarding as some had never used a digital camera and most had
never used web-page software. They were proud of their accomplishments. Once their web pages were
designed, they presented them to the class as a whole using a computer and digital projector.
Physical Geology – GEOL 120
Winter 2004
Dr. Jennifer A. Thomson
Jennifer.Thomson@mail.ewu.edu
(509) 359-7478 SCI 134
Department of Geology: http://www.geology.ewu.edu
Course material is accessible via Blackboard (http://blackboard.ewu.edu ). If you are using an EWU networked
computer, you may access the course by simply typing blackboard. If you already have a Blackboard account
from Fall 2003, use that same account. If you are new to Blackboard you must create an account by following
the instructions given in class and in the accompanying handout. Once you have an account, you must enroll in
the course in order to access the material. Follow the instructions provided. The course is listed under Geology
and is called GEOL 120 Physical Geology and is taught by Dr. Jennifer Thomson. Note: You must be
registered in the course through the Registrar’s Office. If you are not registered in the course, you will be
removed from the Blackboard system. Enrolling in the course via Blackboard does not register you for the
course at the Registrar’s Office!
Attendance: Class and lab attendance are REQUIRED. Absenteeism is not acceptable except in extenuating
circumstances. You must complete all labs and assignments in order to complete the course. There are no lab
make-ups. Miss two labs or two assignments and you will automatically be awarded a grade of 0.0. No
exceptions.
Grading Criteria:
30% - Three Lecture Exams (10% each)
15% - Final Exam – Semi-cumulative – Thursday, March 18
25% - Laboratory Exercises and on-line Assignments via Blackboard
15% - Laboratory Practical Exam – Thursday, March 11
10% – Field Trip report due Monday, March 15 at start of class
5% - Pop quizzes or announced on-line quizzes via Blackboard
Texts:
Earth: Portrait of a Planet (Marshak, 2001) package and web site: http://www.wwnorton.com/earth/
Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology (Busch, 2003)
LABS are held in Room 118, Thursday’s 1:00 – 3:50.
ALWAYS bring pencils, ruler, calculator and your lab manual to the laboratory. Your
textbook also helps. Labs may include follow-up, take-home assignments.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW: Required one-day field trip examining the geology of
Spokane is scheduled for Saturday, March 6th. More details to follow including field trip
report guidelines. Digital cameras encouraged!
Lecture, Reading and Lab Schedule
Date
M Jan 5
T Jan 6
W Jan 7
R Jan 8
M Jan 12
T Jan 13
W Jan 14
R Jan 15
M Jan 19
T Jan 20
W Jan 21
R Jan 22
M Jan 26
T Jan 27
W Jan 28
R Jan 29
M Feb 2
T Feb 3
W Feb 4
R Feb 5
M Feb 9
T Feb 10
W Feb 11
R Feb 12
M Feb 16
T Feb 17
W Feb 18
R Feb 19
M Feb 23
T Feb 24
W Feb 25
R Feb 26
M Mar 1
T Mar 2
W Mar 3
R Mar 4
Saturday Mar 6
M Mar 8
T Mar 9
W Mar 10
R Mar 11
M Mar 15
R Mar 18
Lecture Topic
Earth’s Structure
Earth’s Structure
Continental Drift and Sea Floor
Spreading
Continental Drift and Sea Floor
Spreading
Plate Tectonics
Plate Tectonics
Minerals
Minerals
Martin Luther King Holiday
Exam 1
Mineral Resources
Mineral Resources
Rock Groups
Igneous Rocks
Igneous Rocks
Igneous Rocks
Exam 2 - 1/15 - 1/29
Basic Sedimentary Rocks
Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks
The Rock Cycle
Volcanoes
Volcanoes
Presidents Day Holiday
Volcanoes
Volcanoes
Topographic Maps
Exam 3 - 2/3 - 2/19
Earthquakes and Seismology
Earthquakes and Seismology
Earthquakes and Seismology
Seeing Inside the Earth
Seeing Inside the Earth
Crustal Deformation and Mountain Bldg.
Crustal Deformation and Mountain Bldg.
ONE-DAY FIELD TRIP
Crustal Deformation and Mountain Bldg.
Crustal Deformation and Mountain Bldg.
Current Topics in Geology
Lab Practical Jam Session
Evaluations and Final Exam Review
Final Exam – 9 – 11AM
Reading
Prelude, 2
2
3
Laboratory Schedule
3
Lab 1 – Plate Tectonics
4
4
5
5
1-5
15
15
Interlude A
6
6
6
Assignment – Plate Tectonics
7 p. 176-186
8
8
8
Interlude B
9
9
9
9
Lab manual
10
10
10
Interlude C
Interlude C
11
11
Lab 2 – Physical Properties of Minerals
Note: Exam does not include silicates (Ch. 5)
Lab 3 – Ores and Ore Deposits
Lab 4 – Igneous Rocks
Note: Exam includes silicates (Ch. 5)
Lab 5 – Metamorphic Rocks
Lab 6 - Volcanoes
Assignment - Volcanoes
Lab 7 – Topographic Maps
Lab 8 – Earthquakes
Assignment - Earthquakes
Lab 9 – Deformation and Geologic Structures
11
11
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Lab Practical Exam
Field Trip Report due in class
Note: The final is semi-cumulative
SAMPLE EXERCISE
GEOL 120 - Assignment 1 - Due Monday, January 12, 10:00AM
Name _______________________________
This exercise is provided as a data-rich follow-up to your Plate Tectonics Lab. Read the instructions carefully. If you are
directed to a particular web site, be sure to read the information provided. When answering questions posed below, write
COMPLETE AND GRAMATICALLY CORRECT SENTENCES.
1. Print out this web page.
2. PRINT OUT the plate boundaries map from lab (pdf document).
3. Go to the IRIS page (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology) at http://www.iris.washington.edu/ and click on the
SEISMIC MONITOR.
4. Place your cursor directly over and click on the circles which represent the locations and magnitudes of the recent earthquakes in
Iran. A new page will open showing the map.
a. Place the cursor (hand) over the circles which represent the earthquakes in Iran. The
magnitude, date and time of the earthquake is shown in the text box below the map. Once this
text is visible, PRINT OUT the map and attach it to your packet.
b. On your plate boundaries map, locate the Iran earthquake with a colored pencil. Write the magnitude of the
largest earthquake adjacent to the location.
c. Click on the Close and Return tab.
5. On the main SEISMIC MONITOR map, place your cursor directly over the circles which represent the
locations and magnitudes of the recent earthquake in Southern California. A new page will open showing the
map.
a. Place the cursor (hand) over the circles which represent the earthquakes in California. The
magnitude, date and time of the earthquake is shown in the text box below the map. Once this
text is visible, PRINT OUT the map and attach it to your packet.
b. On your plate boundaries map, locate the California earthquake with a colored pencil. Write the magnitude of
the largest earthquake adjacent to the location.
c. Click on the Close and Return tab.
6. On the main SEISMIC MONITOR map, place your cursor directly over the circles which represent the
locations and magnitudes of the recent earthquakes in Japan. A new page will open showing the map.
a. Place the cursor (hand) over the circles which represent the largest magnitude and most recent
Japan earthquake. The magnitude, date and time of the earthquake is shown in the text box
below the map. Once this text is visible, PRINT OUT the map and attach it to your packet.
b. On your plate boundaries map, locate the Japan region earthquake with a colored pencil. Write the magnitude of
the largest earthquake adjacent to the location.
c. Click on the Close and Return tab.
Now, thinking back to what you learned in the Plate Tectonics Lab, summarize what you know about the types
of plate boundaries at each of the three locations. Remember to use COMPLETE and GRAMMATICALLY
CORRECT sentences!!
Iran -
Japan -
Southern California -
Which plate boundary described above is likely to have deep earthquakes?
Which plate boundary described above is likely to have shallow earthquakes?
7. Go to the USGS Earthquakes page at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ and click on the link to the earthquake in
southeastern Iran.
a. What is the magnitude of this earthquake?
b. At what depth did this earthquake occur? Give both kilometers and miles.
c.
km
mi
Scroll down and click on the link to the TECTONIC SUMMARY. Read the information presented and then summarize IN
YOUR OWN WORDS (otherwise it's plagarism...) the names of the plates involved and the type of plate boundary. If the
TECTONIC SUMMARY uses fault terminology (e.g., reverse, right-lateral strike slip, etc.), look up the definition in your
text and include it here.
8. Go to the USGS Earthquakes page at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ and click on the link to the earthquake in
San Simeon California.
a. What is the magnitude of this earthquake?
b. At what depth did this earthquake occur? Give both kilometers and miles.
km
mi
c. Scroll down and click on the link to the TECTONIC SUMMARY. Read the information presented and then summarize IN YOUR
OWN WORDS (otherwise it's plagarism...) the names of the plates involved and the type of plate boundary. If the TECTONIC
SUMMARY uses fault terminology (e.g., reverse, right-lateral strike slip, etc.), look up the definition in your text and include it here.
9. Go to the USGS Earthquakes page at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ and navigate your way to the Japan
earthquake that you used in the questions above. NOTE: This may require you to explore links accessible from
the USGS page. If you can't find your earthquake keep trying!!
a. What is the magnitude of this earthquake?
b. At what depth did this earthquake occur? Give both kilometers and miles.
km
mi
c. Scroll down and click on the link to the TECTONIC SUMMARY. Read the information presented and then summarize IN YOUR
OWN WORDS (otherwise it's plagarism...) the names of the plates involved and the type of plate boundary. If the TECTONIC
SUMMARY uses fault terminology (e.g., reverse, right-lateral strike slip, etc.), look up the definition in your text and include it here.
End of exercise. Staple all material and turn it in by MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 10AM. Late
assignments will not be accepted!!