The Environmental Geology of Your
Home:
A Capstone Project in an Environmental Geology
Course for Non-Majors
Michael Phillips
Geology Instructor
Illinois Valley Community College
Oglesby, Illinois
Environmental Geology: Goals
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Introduction to the science of geology
Focus on applied aspects of geology
Appeal to students’ current interests
Deliver information that the students can
use long after completion of the course
Term Project Goals
• Apply concepts covered in class and lab
– project sections align with lab and text
• Work throughout the semester
– project work is integrated with lab exercises
• Examine an area familiar to the student
– square mile section in which they live
• Acquaint students with resources
– students use public information resources
Project Outline
• Introduction
– Location of study area - county, township,
range, and section
– Description of study area - past and present
land use, overall topography, etc.
– General overview of findings - a summary of
the report findings
Project Outline
• Natural Resources
– topics: soils, surface water, groundwater,
mineral resources
– discuss: availability, past and current use
– resources: USDA soil surverys, state water
resource records, geologic publications
– contact: local government (ie. municiple water
supplier)
Project Outline
• Natural Hazards
– topics: flooding, landslides, earthquakes,
wetlands, radon gas, etc.
– discuss: hazardous areas, historic events, past
and current responses
– resources: FEMA (web site), state and local
agency documents and reports
– contact: local ESDA office
Project Outline
• Human-Induced Hazards
– topics: polluted areas, pollution sources, human
effects on natural hazards, mine subsidence
– discuss: hazardous areas, historic events, past
and current responses
– resources: USEPA (web site), state and local
agencies (including database lists and FIOA
requests)
– contact: state EPA, local fire department
Project Outline
• Plans for Future Use
– topics: past and current land-use plans
– discuss: adequacy of current plans, suggestions
for change
– resources: local planning agency
Project Outline
• Conclusions:summarize the most important
findings
• References: all sources
• Figures: maps, diagrams, photographs
Presentation of Project
• Research Paper
– Content (not page) requirement
– Must be referenced
• Oral Presentation
– Briefly present key findings
– Still working the bugs out
Project Grade
• Rubrik distributed to students
• Basis
– required elements
– depth of research
– insight and interpretation
Disadvantages
• Compiling resources
• Tracking progress
• Grading projects at semester’s end
Advantages
• Students have a meaningful report
• Semester-long schedule reduces last-minute
efforts
• Capstone project reflects students’
understanding of course material
• Very interesting reading for the instructor
Thank You
Michael Phillips
Illinois Valley Community College
http://www.ivcc.edu/phillips/
mphillip@ivcc.edu