HR: 10:50h
AN: ED32A-03    [Abstracts]
TI: Engaging a Diverse Group of Students with a Broad Spectrum of Geological Experience: The CSUN Catalyst Approach and a MARGINS Application
AU: * Marsaglia, K M
EM: kathie.marsaglia@csun.edu
AF: Dept. of Geological Sciences, California State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330-8266, United States
AU: Vazquez, J
EM: jvazquez@csun.edu
AF: Dept. of Geological Sciences, California State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330-8266, United States
AU: Yule, J D
EM: j.d.yule@csun.edu
AF: Dept. of Geological Sciences, California State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330-8266, United States
AU: Simila, G
EM: gerry.simila@csun.edu
AF: Dept. of Geological Sciences, California State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge, CA 91330-8266, United States
AB: Imagine the challenge of teaching a one-unit Geoscience course composed of a diverse mix of first-year graduate majors, senior to freshman majors, and high school students with little earth science background. With the help of Geodiversity grants from NSF (CSUN Catalyst program), we have developed a successful environment for learning and mentorship via a series of short (2-3 week) inquiry-based exercises that emphasize teamwork. Each exercise is organized around research projects headed by Catalyst Faculty members: Northridge Earthquake, San Andreas Fault System, Yellowstone and Long Valley supervolcanoes, and New Zealand MARGIN geology. After participating in the course, students conduct independent research within one of four research groups as part of their MS or BS theses including summer research experiences. One exercise, constructed as a version of "The Oil Game," is meant to familiarize students with MARGINS Source-to-Sink focus (Waipaoa Sedimentary System, North Island) and alternate focus (Bounty Fan, South Island) sites in New Zealand. Students are divided into rival petroleum companies (Tiger Oil and Flower Petroleum) and asked to evaluate offshore areas for an impending government lease sale and to provide the rationale for competitive sealed bids that they recommend in a final presentation to management (Catalyst Faculty). To accomplish this they are supplied with reference materials on onshore geology and known petroleum production, samples of New Zealand rock units and stream sediments, and a limited budget. In addition to geological parameters (source rocks, seals, reservoir rocks, trapping mechanisms) they must also take into account environmental, economic and infrastructure concerns. Other projects included documenting volcanic hazards around Long Valley caldera and evaluating seismic hazards of local high school sites. The tiered structure of the projects perhaps best serves the undergraduate participants, who benefit from being mentored by graduate students as well as serving as mentors for the high school students.
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
DE: 0810 Post-secondary education
DE: 0825 Teaching methods
DE: 0855 Diversity
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting