USING NEARBY FOSSIL SITES FROM THE LITERATURE TO TEACH TAXONOMY IN UNDERGRADUATE PALEONTOLOGY

A widely needed, but often neglected skill for modern geologists is paleontology and within paleontology the area of taxonomy. Without taxonomy other related areas of study remain impossible.

Developing skills as a taxonomist is a lifelong endeavor and few are willing to devote that much effort. However, an introductory level knowledge of the process should be attained so one understands and appreciates the broader, more extensive, field. The process that I have developed is to take the introductory paleontology students to one or two well-known and well-published fossil locations in the area and have them make collections (the fun part). The individual fossil collections are labeled for eventual return and students select all of a particular group from the entire class's collection to study. The individual “student researchers” them prepare, describe, and identify the fauna with the “aid of a specialist” in the chosen field of taxonomy who is present through the literature. The final step is to present the project in a “professional” venue. The minimum level is a special Geology Club meeting on an evening where each class member makes a PowerPoint® presentation to the rest of the class plus spouses, family members, all the rest of the geology majors, and anyone else that we can find. Occasionally a project is appropriate for a state-level or regional-level meeting.

This format has proven to be an effective method to teach taxonomy and to give students experience preparing talks and presenting them before an audience.