1. Session: Designing Effective Assignments and Activities I
The Amazing GeoRace
Session: Designing Effective Assignments and Activities I
(Field Activities)
GEO
Simon A. Kattenhorn
University of Idaho
Dept. of Geological Sciences

2. Activity Context Course: Geology 101: Physical Geology
Demographic: Non-majors course. Mostly Freshmen, but includes through Seniors.
Enrollment: Typically around 280 but as much as 320.
Timing: Extra-credit optional exercise near end of semester.
Amazing GeoRace: Kattenhorn
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3. Activity Context
Rock identification / societal use of geologic materials
Why?: Students can observe how different types of rocks are used on campus.
Extra credit opportunity
Why?: Grade in class is based solely on 4 multiple-choice (Scantron) exams.
Optional exercise
Why?: Capitalizes on student level of enthusiasm and concern about grade.
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4. Activity Goals Application of material learned in classroom setting
How?: Students must apply rock and mineral identification skills learned in lectures and labs at a number of sites around campus.
Material review
How?: Students attempt exercise near end of semester but the skills were learned at the start of the semester.
Novel approach to encourage student interest / enthusiasm
How?: Students must solve a number of obscure clues to navigate between geologic stops, encouraging students to complete all sites (may take up to a few hours). Students enjoy the challenge of clue-solving.
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5. Activity Guidelines
Clues are provided on a website that is only enabled at the start of the allotted time frame during which the exercise is available.
Students must print out the set of navigational clues, photos of each geologic stop, and a set of questions that must be answered.
Students may work in small groups to encourage discussion.
All students must sign in at the start of the exercise to ensure that only those participating are awarded bonus points on the final exam.
Problem set answers must be ed to instructor before a set deadline. Number of bonus points is dependent on number of sites visited.
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6. Activity Content
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7. Activity Content
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8. Activity Content
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9. Activity Content
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10. Activity Content
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11. Activity Content
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12. Activity Content Caveats: problems with cheating.
attention to detail in rock identification is sometimes lacking.
is this effective at all???
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