USING ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY TO TEACH RESEARCH SKILLS TO UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Environmental geology is a subject capable of engaging undergraduate students with differing interests. These real-life tangible problems contain elements of social and natural sciences that connect with students' concern for social justice. At SUNY Geneseo, Chemistry 100, a one-hour class, seeks to give freshman chemistry majors a broad-based sense of the discipline and an introduction to chemical methods and research. Using constructivist pedagogy, librarians taught research skills to these introductory students by way of the environmental issues surrounding the current hot topic of pharmaceutical substances in surface water. Building upon research presented by geologists at the 2006 GSA annual meeting, librarians introduced the issues through active learning exercises conducted over two class sessions. Students created a list of characteristics to distinguish scholarly from non-scholarly sources and received guidance on choosing resources appropriate to their needs. They practiced searching several databases including Academic Search Premier and SciFinder Scholar, where they also retrieved substance-related data. Learning outcomes were based on ACRL Information literacy Standards for Science and Engineering/Technology. Following the second session, a brief in-class assessment evaluated student perceptions of the sessions and learning outcomes. Students were generally enthusiastic about the classes, the newly-discovered information resources, and the roles that chemists might play in a complex environmental issue. Assessment revealed that the use of an environmental geology topic can be useful for engaging lower level undergraduate students and can provide a vehicle for teaching basic research skills.