1. Using Art & Culture to Engage Students in the Geosciences Niccole Villa Cerveny, Ph.D. Geography Faculty Mesa Community College

2. The Background I am a Geomorphologist My personal research has aided Archaeology – The RASI Project I believe in involving students in research NSF believes in my involving students in research Accidental Affective Domain??

3. What is RASI The Rock Art Stability Index, or RASI, is designed to provide an easy-to-train, cost- effective triage assessment for rock panels in danger of natural or human-induced decay NSF CCLI - Collaborative Research: Using the Rock Art Stability Index to Engage Community College Students in Field-Based Interdisciplinary Research

5. Why is Rock Art Important?

6. What do the students do?

7. Rock Art Stability Index  Setting & geologic structure  Panel weaknesses  Evidence of large erosion events on and below the panel  Evidence of small erosion events on the panel  Rock coatings on the panel  Vandalism & other modern problems  Setting & geologic structure  Panel weaknesses  Evidence of large erosion events on and below the panel  Evidence of small erosion events on the panel  Rock coatings on the panel  Vandalism & other modern problems

8. Rock Art Stability Index (RASI)  Easy to use with minimal training  Allows for complexity with additional funding  Replicable  Field worker and site manager adjustment  Cost Effective  Status color coding scheme (“no urgent issues” to “in great danger of loss”)  Mappable with a GIS  existing and future spatial analytical strategies  Security is critical

9. Unexpected Results All students engaged in the project - using science to value the cultural resource – Concept Map/Pre- Post Tests Women and minority students significantly more

10. What does this mean? By adding art and culture, you give students a reason to value what might otherwise seem rather tedious

11. Special Thanks to:  National Science Foundation (DUE-0837451)  Petrified Forest National Park  Jason Theuer, Park Archaeologist  Maricopa County Community College District  Mesa Campus  Arizona State University  Dr. R.I. Dorn & Students  University of Colorado – Denver  Dr. Case Allen & Students  All of the MCC RASI Team Students