HR: 0800h
AN: ED11D-1123    [Abstracts]
TI: Incorporating the International Polar Year Into Introductory Geology Laboratories at Ohio State University
AU: * Judge, S A
EM: sjudge@muskingum.edu
AF: Geology Dept. Muskingum College, 163 Stormont St, New Concord, OH 43762 United States
AU: * Judge, S A
EM: sjudge@muskingum.edu
AF: Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 United States
AU: * Judge, S A
EM: sjudge@muskingum.edu
AF: Dept. of Geological Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 United States
AU: Wilson, T J
EM: wilson.43@osu.edu
AF: Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 United States
AU: Wilson, T J
EM: wilson.43@osu.edu
AF: Dept. of Geological Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 United States
AB: The International Polar Year (IPY) provides an excellent opportunity for highlighting polar research in education. The ultimate goal of our outreach and education program is to develop a series of modules that are focused on societally-relevant topics being investigated in Antarctic earth science, while teaching basic geologic concepts that are standard elements of school curricula. For example, we envision a university-level, undergraduate, introductory earth science class with the entire semester/quarter laboratory program focused on polar earth science research during the period of the International Polar Year. To attain this goal, a series of modules will be developed, including inquiry-based exercises founded on imagery (video, digital photos, digital core scans), GIS data layers, maps, and data sets available from OSU research groups. Modules that highlight polar research are also suitable for the K-12 audience. Scaleable/grade appropriate modules that use some of the same data sets as the undergraduate modules can be outlined for elementary through high school earth science classes. An initial module is being developed that focuses on paleoclimate data. The module provides a hands-on investigation of the climate history archived in both ice cores and sedimentary rock cores in order to understand time scales, drivers, and processes of global climate change. The paleoclimate module also demonstrates the types of polar research that are ongoing at OSU, allowing students to observe what research the faculty are undertaking in their respective fields. This will link faculty research with student education in the classroom, enhancing learning outcomes. Finally, this module will provide a direct link to U.S. Antarctic Program research related to the International Polar Year, when new ice and sedimentary rock cores will be obtained and analyzed. As a result of this laboratory exercise, the students will be able to: (1) Define an ice core and a sedimentary rock core. (Knowledge) (2) Identify climate indicators in each type of core by using digital core images. These include layers of particulate material (such as volcanic tephra) in ice cores and layers of larger grains (such as ice-rafted debris) in sedimentary rock cores. (Knowledge) (3) Describe how cores are taken in extreme environments, such as Antarctica. (Comprehension) (4) Use actual data from proxies in the ice and sedimentary records to graph changes through time in the cores. (Application) (5) Recognize variances in data sets that might illustrate periods of climate change. (Analysis) (6) Integrate data results from several proxies in order to construct a climate record for both ice cores and sedimentary rock cores. (Synthesis) (7) Interpret both the ice core and sedimentary rock core records to ascertain the effectiveness of both of these tools in archiving climate records. (Evaluation)
DE: 0810 Post-secondary education
DE: 0820 Curriculum and laboratory design
DE: 9310 Antarctica (4207)
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005