HR: 09:40h
AN: ED31A-07    [PDF]
TI: GeoWall use in an Introductory Geology laboratory: Impacts in Student Understanding of Field Mapping Concepts
AU: * Ross, L E
EM: ler8@dana.ucc.nau.edu
AF: Northern Arizona University, PO Box #4099, Flagstaff, AZ 86011 United States
AU: Kelly, M
EM: mkellyaz@earthlink.net
AF: MMKAA Incorporated, 3354 North Crest Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 United States
AU: Springer, A E
EM: abe.springer@nau.edu
AF: Northern Arizona University, PO Box #4099, Flagstaff, AZ 86011 United States
AB: In the Fall semester of 2003, Northern Arizona University will introduce the GeoWall to its introductory geology courses. This presents an opportunity to assess the impact of this new technology on students' understanding of basic topographic concepts and the spatial relationships between geology, topography, and hydrology on a field trip. Introductory Geology fulfills the Lab Science component of the Liberal Studies Program at Northern Arizona University. The class is open to all Northern Arizona University students, and is most commonly taken by non-science majors. In this class students learn to: locate their position using maps, identify common minerals and rocks, recognize the relationship between geology and geomorphology, visualize how rocks exposed at the surface continue into the subsurface, and to draw conclusions about possible geologic hazards in different settings. In this study we will report how a GeoWall 3D visualization technology was used in a field study of a graben south of Flagstaff. The goal of the field exercise is to improve students' ability to synthesize data collected at field stops into a conceptual model of the graben, linking geology, geomorphology and hydrology. We plan to present a quantitative assessment of the GeoWall learning objectives from data collected from a paired test and control group of students. Teaching assistants (TAs) with two or more lab classes have been identified; these TAs will participate in both GeoWall and non-GeoWall lab exercises. The GeoWall use will occur outside of normal lab hours to avoid disrupting the lab schedule during the eighth week of lab. This field preparation exercise includes a 3D visualization of the Lake Mary graben rendered with the ROMA software. The following week, all students attend the graben field trip; immediately following the trip, students will interviewed about their gain in understanding of the geologic features illustrated during the field trip. The results of the post-fieldtrip interviews will also be presented to quantitatively assess how students perceive the use of the GeoWall in this introductory geology setting, and how it affected their understanding.
DE: 6605 Education
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting