USE OF SEMESTER LONG DATA/RESEARCH PROJECTS IN INTRODUCTORY EARTH SCIENCE COURSES

Semester long research projects as a partial substitute for traditional laboratory exercises have been implemented in two, two-semester long Introductory Earth Science sequences. One sequence is designed for traditional age students, the other for an accelerated format course of non-traditional age students. Each semester students develop a research question, propose a testable hypothesis, and test the hypothesis using web-based data sets. In the first semester, research questions center on flood frequency behavior during the traditional student course. Students access surface water data from the USGS National Streamflow Information Program (NSIP) website. Earthquake distribution and plate tectonics are the focus for the non-traditional age students’ research projects. The students use an interactive computer program called Seismic/Eruption or SeisVolE to collect and organize seismic data from the USGS. The second semester in both course sequences focuses on questions related to global climate change. Data is obtained from NOAA's National Climate Data Center, or NASA's TOPEX/Poseidon website. Prior to the selection of their research question, students engage in laboratory activities to introduce them to the datasets and/or software that they are likely to use. At the end of each semester of study, students are required to prepare a poster presentation and a short oral presentation of their results. This exercise is to simulate a poster session at a professional, scientific conference.