Teaching Field Methods in Hydrogeology Todd Halihan Shemin Ge F. Ed Harvey (adapted from 2007 GSA Short Course)

A Course is Born Summer of 2005 On the Cutting Edge – Professional Development for Geoscience Faculty Workshop: Teaching Hydrogeology in the 21 st Century Need for people teaching hydrogeology to learn field tools and techniques

Instructors Shemin GeF. Ed HarveyTodd Halihan

Teaching Issues The Good, The Bad, and the Impermeable Layer

5 Components 1.To think 2.To be professional 3.To communicate 4.To be fearless (does not include stupid) 5.To achieve the Zen of fieldwork

The Zen of Fieldwork Rarely see fist fights in class, not true in field courses Discuss this with class Instead of fights, people will actively monitor their distance from Zen (generally walk around repeating “Must be Zen” when equipment or students not cooperating)

Your background Math phobic? 5 senses – data input –Sight –Hearing –Taste –Touch –Smell –None of these work for well for ground water problems – need INSTINCTS

Project Course Sites Project management websites Hard to keep people using them May be useful for some courses/situations, but students generally just meet somewhere

Round Robin System 3 “companies” conducting projects (Encourage company names) 1 project manager for each company For three weeks, three projects will be conducted by the three companies Each project will be written into a letter report detailing results (provide examples)

Importance of Project Manager Removes your responsibility for project fuzz – little details that the students can take care of if someone feels responsible Gives contact for several students in class to communicate info They understand the different issues that occur as manager instead of just student Reports are better

Example Round Robin 1 Project 1: Basin Assessment Project 2: Well Rehabilitation Project 3: Long term monitoring Setup of field site and researching background can be initial projects Similar to a Tier 1 investigation

Project 1: Basin Assessment Project Objectives: 1.Delineate basin for Perkins Agricultural Research Station (PARS) –Area owned by OSU –Surface water controlled area –GW regional area 2.Evaluate existing Literature –Publications –Theses –State/Federal Databases 3.Create Map of Basins Always clearly delineate objectives

Project 2: Well Rehabilitation Project Objectives: 1.Rehabilitate piezometers –Sand removal –Any other items removal –Improve piezometer completion 2.Document location of wells –GPS x,y –Survey z 3.Create well label with details

Project 3: Long term monitoring Project Objectives: 1.Establish piezometric monitoring –Install transducers –Provide bovine protection 2.Establish weather station 3.Take baseline vertical profile data 4.Other?

Simple Round Robin (3 skills in 3 exercises, but exposed 3 times) Week 1: –Team 1: Basin Assessment –Team 2: Well Rehabilitation –Team 3: Long term monitoring Week 2: –Team 2: Basin Assessment –Team 3: Well Rehabilitation –Team 1: Long term monitoring Week 3: –Team 3: Basin Assessment –Team 1: Well Rehabilitation –Team 2: Long term monitoring

Responsibilities Grad Students/Seniors –1 st project managers –Training managers Equipment prep and cleaning –KISS method Course Logistics –Departure time –Departure method

Supplies Textbook Bound Field Notebook Clothing Snacks Boots – steel toe? Other safety gear? Raingear/Snowgear?

Project Notebooks Field forms often useful –Collect data needed for analysis –Forget fewer data needed for analysis –Write-in-the-rain paper if possible –Should grade notes as well as reports

Beware Single disgruntled student can wreck project Need to manage as quickly as possible Set expectations early Single biggest problem in field classes Cultivate cheerleaders

Include peer evaluation Student perform better when the group evaluates their own performance Key metrics –% of contribution (to field and to reporting) –Ranking of contribution –Easily see who the group felt performed and who sat back

Provide examples Give example reports Give example field situation practice –Zen of Fieldwork –Angry landowner

Include/Prioritize Safety Signed tailgate meeting form Order of field operations 1.Safety 2.Equipment 3.Data Quality (Student must understand each component and not change their order!)