Overall rating of instructor
4.83
Geology 201
Field Methods
Fall 2021
Excellent to Good
4.83
Geology 201
Field Methods
Fall 2021
Excellent to Good
Geology 201 Field Methods in Geology is a great class to teach. Students often learn material in classes and later apply what they learn in the field. In this course, students actually do the "learning" in the field. Students learn fundamental geology skills such as topographic map reading, correct use of a hand lens, effective use of a rock hammer, mineral and rock identification, measuring structures with a Brunton compass, sketching in the field, and recording thorough field notes. These are skills that they will use in almost all of their upper-level geology courses and as professional geologists.
Students learn other skills during the exercises, such as team building during the orienteering activity at Snowbowl State Forest, resilience during challenging topographic map making at Glenmeal State Forest, persistence while measuring structures at Stone Valley, and artistic presentation while making a graphic column in Morristown.
Installation of the Geoscience Garden has improved the course immensely. We are able to step out directly from the classroom and observe and measure a variety of rocks. In the beginning of the semester, the exercise is fairly simple. At the end of the semester, as a final project, students individually make a geologic map of the rock garden, demonstrating their mastery of the fundamental skills from identifying rocks, to measuring and plotting geologic data, and creating a geologic map. Student performance on this activity serves as a departmental assessment tool for the Student Learning Objective focused on mastery of geological skills.
Students learn other skills during the exercises, such as team building during the orienteering activity at Snowbowl State Forest, resilience during challenging topographic map making at Glenmeal State Forest, persistence while measuring structures at Stone Valley, and artistic presentation while making a graphic column in Morristown.
Installation of the Geoscience Garden has improved the course immensely. We are able to step out directly from the classroom and observe and measure a variety of rocks. In the beginning of the semester, the exercise is fairly simple. At the end of the semester, as a final project, students individually make a geologic map of the rock garden, demonstrating their mastery of the fundamental skills from identifying rocks, to measuring and plotting geologic data, and creating a geologic map. Student performance on this activity serves as a departmental assessment tool for the Student Learning Objective focused on mastery of geological skills.
|
Student evaluations of GEOL 201 Field Methods in Geology and of the instructor for Fall 2021 include:
The course was a lot of fun and being able to go out into nature and explore while learning was an amazing experience.
It's cool to learn about something and then see it work in the real world.
I do feel like I learned a lot of different field techniques and it's nice to physically do work and learn outside the classroom. As a future geologist, I don't think it's all going to be inside work and lectures. I really liked the final project!
She is so nice and comforting and is really good at explaining things that you may have trouble understanding.
Sara is so kind and cares about her students. She taught me a lot in the short course that we had. I would love to take another class with her.
The course was a lot of fun and being able to go out into nature and explore while learning was an amazing experience.
It's cool to learn about something and then see it work in the real world.
I do feel like I learned a lot of different field techniques and it's nice to physically do work and learn outside the classroom. As a future geologist, I don't think it's all going to be inside work and lectures. I really liked the final project!
She is so nice and comforting and is really good at explaining things that you may have trouble understanding.
Sara is so kind and cares about her students. She taught me a lot in the short course that we had. I would love to take another class with her.