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The Environmental Geology of Your Home: A Capstone Project in an Environmental Geology Course for Non-Majors. Michael Phillips Geology Instructor Illinois Valley Community College Oglesby, Illinois. Environmental Geology: Goals. Introduction to the science of geology
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The Environmental Geology of Your Home:A Capstone Project in an Environmental Geology Course for Non-Majors Michael Phillips Geology Instructor Illinois Valley Community College Oglesby, Illinois
Environmental Geology: Goals • Introduction to the science of geology • Focus on applied aspects of geology • Appeal to students’ current interests • Deliver information that the students can use long after completion of the course
Term Project Goals • Apply concepts covered in class and lab • project sections align with lab and text • Work throughout the semester • project work is integrated with lab exercises • Examine an area familiar to the student • square mile section in which they live • Acquaint students with resources • students use public information resources
Project Outline • Introduction • Location of study area - county, township, range, and section • Description of study area - past and present land use, overall topography, etc. • General overview of findings - a summary of the report findings
Project Outline • Natural Resources • topics: soils, surface water, groundwater, mineral resources • discuss: availability, past and current use • resources: USDA soil surverys, state water resource records, geologic publications • contact: local government (ie. municiple water supplier)
Project Outline • Natural Hazards • topics: flooding, landslides, earthquakes, wetlands, radon gas, etc. • discuss: hazardous areas, historic events, past and current responses • resources: FEMA (web site), state and local agency documents and reports • contact: local ESDA office
Project Outline • Human-Induced Hazards • topics: polluted areas, pollution sources, human effects on natural hazards, mine subsidence • discuss: hazardous areas, historic events, past and current responses • resources: USEPA (web site), state and local agencies (including database lists and FIOA requests) • contact: state EPA, local fire department
Project Outline • Plans for Future Use • topics: past and current land-use plans • discuss: adequacy of current plans, suggestions for change • resources: local planning agency
Project Outline • Conclusions:summarize the most important findings • References: all sources • Figures: maps, diagrams, photographs
Presentation of Project • Research Paper • Content (not page) requirement • Must be referenced • Oral Presentation • Briefly present key findings • Still working the bugs out
Project Grade • Rubrik distributed to students • Basis • required elements • depth of research • insight and interpretation
Disadvantages • Compiling resources • Tracking progress • Grading projects at semester’s end
Advantages • Students have a meaningful report • Semester-long schedule reduces last-minute efforts • Capstone project reflects students’ understanding of course material • Very interesting reading for the instructor
Thank You Michael Phillips Illinois Valley Community College http://www.ivcc.edu/phillips/ mphillip@ivcc.edu