Integrative mapping of global-scale processes and patterns on “imaginary Earth” continental geometries: A teaching tool in an Earth History course
Downloadable Content
Abstract
- The complexity and interrelatedness of aspects of the geosciences is an important concept to convey in
an undergraduate geoscience curriculum. A synthesis capstone project has served to integrate patternbased
learning of an introductory Earth History course into an active and process-based exercise in
hypothesis production. In this exercise, students are given (1) an imaginary global continental
configuration and (2) a general categorization of the global climate. Students then work through cause/
effect relationships in Earth processes and hypothesize global biotic and abiotic patterns to be mapped
upon the imaginary continental framework. Presentation and discussion of each student’s imaginary
earth and his/her interpretation of the various mappable parameters engages students in each other’s
reasoning and creative thought processes while promoting group learning and increasing science
communication skills. Examination of the evidence and procedures used in the retrodiction of actual
global paleogeographic scenarios is then placed in the context of this project. In practice, students have
responded enthusiastically to the opportunity to develop geographic interpretations of an imaginary
paleogeographic framework using their understanding of modern Earth systems. Upon exit evaluation,
greater than 85% of the students taking part in the exercise felt more confident in their ability to
hypothesize patterns from process.
| Title | Integrative mapping of global-scale processes and patterns on “imaginary Earth” continental geometries: A teaching tool in an Earth History course |
|---|---|
| Creator | Sunderlin, David |
| Publisher | Journal of Geoscience Education |
| Academic Department | Geology & Environmental Geosciences |
| Division | Natural Sciences |
| Organization | Lafayette College |
| Date Issued | January 2009 |
| Date Available | 2010-02-12T20:47:48Z |
| Type | Article |
| Language | English |
| Bibliographic Citation | Sunderlin, D. (2009.) "Integrative mapping of global-scale processes and patterns on “imaginary Earth” continental geometries: A teaching tool in an Earth History course." Journal of Geoscience Education 57 (1): 71-79. |
| Standard Identifier | Handle 10385/591 |
| Permalink | http://hdl.handle.net/10385/591 |
| Rights Statement |
In Copyright
|
Contains
| File | Sunderlin-JournalofGeoscienceEducation-vol57-no1-2009.pdf | Uploaded 2019-10-20 | Public | Download |
Member of Collection
