FIELD EXPERIENCES AND HIGH-TECH EDUCATION: BALANCING REQUISITE UNDERGRADUATE SKILLS FOR 21ST CENTURY GEOSCIENTISTS

Large class sizes, budget deficiencies, and rigid time commitments are just a few of the modern pedagogical impediments to student field experiences during the regular college semester. In order to provide today’s geoscience students with crucial field experience UWSP has implemented the use of alternative field work including an interim 2-week, (low cost) field excursion to the southwest United States and a mandatory team-oriented academic year field research project for seniors.

The objectives of the (January) southwest field trip include: 1) transporting students to distant, desert environments with almost 100% rock exposure; 2) observing natural processes in the field at classic localities; 3) collecting field data in support of a research project; 4) serving as faculty mentors during data collection; 5) demonstrating relationships between digital data and the field sites; and 6) preparing students for careers in science. Prior to the field experience, students develop a research strategy, obtain and read published literature, and evaluate available data. Many of our projects involve remote sensing data in which students use their GIS/digital processing skills to interpret multi-spectral imagery. In the field, students collect rock spectral reflectance data using specialized equipment (spectrometer, GPS units) so that they can note critical field variations. In the spring, students may either interpret and analyze their field data, or opt to develop a project involving a local problem to complete their capstone undergraduate research project. Our most successful students have subsequently presented scientific results at professional meetings and participated in international field research projects in Morocco.

Generally, a significantly higher proportion of the field trip students pursue graduate school relative to our overall major population. We attribute this increase to student confidence and skills obtained in the field as well as exposure to the excitement of scientific research. We believe the following are critical elements to a successful undergraduate geoscience major: 1) fundamental geoscience courses coupled with computer based technique classes; 2) active involvement in field research; and 3) active pursuit of funding opportunities to support essential field experiences.