ADAPTING QUANTITATIVE IN-CLASS EXERCISES FOR ONLINE GEOSCIENCE DELIVERY

One of the challenges in teaching on-line geoscience courses is the need to develop meaningful learning activities or to adapt assignments that have proven valuable for student learning in a residential environment. In-class exercises allow for peer-group interactions and instructor assistance, and are readily adjusted or clarified if difficulties in student understanding arise. Electronic delivery of geoscience content does not typically allow for synchronous discussions, which can be especially frustrating for students completing quantitative exercises. With the addition of technological aids such as instructor-recorded audio files and on-line tutorials, students can receive sufficient information and resources to complete on-line assignments successfully.

We recently adapted the residential version of EARTH 105, Environments of Africa, for electronic delivery. This course includes several assignments where students perform quantitative analyses on data sets as mandated by rules governing General Education.

One assignment requires calculating the age of Saharan groundwater. The residential offering divides students into groups to perform calculations and locate sample sites. Each group reports their results and interpretations to the class. For the on-line version, each student performs the groundwater age calculations individually. To facilitate the exercise, students are presented with the data in an MS Excel spreadsheet. Students view a Macromedia Captivate video with audio to learn how to insert the decay formula into Excel to perform the calculations. After students enter their results electronically, they complete an online tutorial to check their calculations, and are then shown sample locations on a map. Students are provided guided questions to interpret land features and distribution of groundwater ages. After completing the tutorial, they are prepared to respond to graded questions and provide interpretations in electronic form.

Classroom assignments that have proven successful for student learning in residential instruction cannot simply be translated into on-line offerings. The electronic environment mandates more structured assignments complete with all required resources accessed through the internet to accommodate the needs and preferences of on-line learners.