Clint Cowan's students in Introductory Geology gave oral reports on aspects of the local geology that they had chosen to research in depth. My Introductory Geology students presented posters on the geologic history of southeastern Minnesota that they completed in small groups. The significant point is that the field work and integration is discovery and inquiry-based. We ask students to use their own observations to synthesize the history, rather than relying on any published material. In fact, students quickly discover that general textbook statements about different sedimentary environments are quite inadequate to cope with the complexities of nature as shown in our local rocks.
Students gain real experience in working through geologic problems.
Students selected their own topics. Dave's Structural Geology class gave oral presentations on small group experiments in deformation. Most students in Introductory Geology will go on to major in fields other than geology, and Paleobiology also has a hefty proportion of non-majors. Expectations for the non-majors in these classes are identical to those for the students majoring in geology. Mary Savina Return to The Carleton College Geology Dept.