The Amazing GeoRace
Session: Designing Effective Assignments and Activities I
(Field Activities)
GEO
Simon A. Kattenhorn
University of Idaho
Dept. of Geological Sciences
Activity Context
Course: Geology 101: Physical Geology
Demographic: Non-majors course. Mostly Freshmen, but
includes through Seniors.
Enrollment: Typically around 280 but as much as 320.
Timing: Extra-credit optional exercise near end of semester.
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Activity Context
• Rock identification / societal use of geologic materials
Why?: Students can observe how different types of rocks are used on campus.
• Extra credit opportunity
Why?: Grade in class is based solely on 4 multiple-choice (Scantron) exams.
• Optional exercise
Why?: Capitalizes on student level of enthusiasm and concern about grade.
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Activity Goals
• Application of material learned in classroom setting
How?: Students must apply rock and mineral identification skills learned in
lectures and labs at a number of sites around campus.
• Material review
How?: Students attempt exercise near end of semester but the skills were
learned at the start of the semester.
• Novel approach to encourage student interest / enthusiasm
How?: Students must solve a number of obscure clues to navigate between
geologic stops, encouraging students to complete all sites (may take
up to a few hours). Students enjoy the challenge of clue-solving.
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Activity Guidelines
• Clues are provided on a website that is only enabled at the start of the
allotted time frame during which the exercise is available.
http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~simkat/geol101_files/theraceison/amazing.georace.html
• Students must print out the set of navigational clues, photos of each
geologic stop, and a set of questions that must be answered.
• Students may work in small groups to encourage discussion.
• All students must sign in at the start of the exercise to ensure that only
those participating are awarded bonus points on the final exam.
• Problem set answers must be emailed to instructor before a set deadline.
Number of bonus points is dependent on number of sites visited.
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Activity Content
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Activity Content
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Activity Content
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Activity Content
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Activity Content
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Activity Content
Caveats:
• problems with cheating.
• attention to detail in rock identification is sometimes lacking.
• is this effective at all???
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