A DYNAMIC EARTH LAB GOES DYNAMIC: UTILIZING AN ON-LINE LABORATORY IN A CLASSROOM SETTING

Introductory level geology laboratory courses taught via on-line manuals in conjunction with distance learning curriculum have become increasingly more common. Yet, an opportunity exists to take advantage of this technology in the classroom setting. We have developed an on-line manual that is utilized in a laboratory setting within the classroom. The course is part of a sequence of introductory level integrated natural science courses structured for non-science majors. The flexibility of on-line curriculum allows for expedient revisions according to the concepts currently being emphasized across the sequence. Students obtain prelabs, labs, and resource materials from the manual on a weekly basis. In the classroom, students work in a small group setting that utilizes traditional lab materials such as hand samples and topographical maps. Furthermore, the online manual enables students to have access to web content, digital maps, and other dynamic visual materials that would be difficult and expensive to produce in a paper-based laboratory manual. Testing has also been performed using on-line assessment in and ouside of the classroom. Evaluation of this new approach has included student surveys to ascertain their perceptions in using the on-line manual, as well as, pre- and post- tests to assess the students’ comprehension of the major topics covered during the course of the lab. Evaluations have shown that a majority of students favor an online manual over a paper-based manual, students show greater familitarity with technology, and student comprehension of lab content is maintained if not improved by the availability of current resources and multimedia. Integrating technology in a laboratory without replacing the hands-on experiences provides the students with greater pathways to understanding key concepts in earth systems courses.