IMPLEMENTATION OF A FOSSIL PREPARATION LAB AS AN ENHANCEMENT TO ACTIVITY BASED LEARNING FOR THE EARTH SCIENCE, GEOLOGY, AND BIOLOGY LABORATORY CURRICULUM AT WAUBONSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

By capitalizing on the widespread appeal of dinosaurs, fossils and pre-historic life in general, Waubonsee Community College is incorporating fossil preparation to enhance student engagement in the Geology and Biology curriculum. The goal of this project is to increase scientific literacy in geologic and evolutionary processes and theories of science majors, non-science majors and the community at large. The implementation of a fossil preparation laboratory will combine traditional knowledge-based learning with exposure to the hands-on experience of utilizing the tools and techniques of paleontological research. The students will explore scientific and research methods while incorporating critical thinking and problem solving in the process of finding, cleaning, restoring and identifying their fossils.

Lacking space and funds for dedicated laboratory facilities specific to problem-based learning activities is an impediment to innovation in laboratory curriculums. It was important therefore to develop cost-effective, multi-departmental use fossil preparation units. The new fossil preparation laboratory of Waubonsee Community College consists of four self-contained mobile units that will serve both the Earth Science, and Biology departments of the college.