GEOLOGY AND GEOGRAPHY OF KENTUCKY: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY FIELD-BASED COURSE

The Department of Geography and Geology at Western Kentucky University will be offering a pre-college, field-based course combining the geology and geography of Kentucky, aimed at entering students. The course is designed for a ten-day period and will be based on a traverse across the state, the route of which will vary from year to year. The course will be offered prior to new student orientation, and instructors will rotate in for a few days apiece. Activities are designed not only to introduce aspects of both disciplines, but to synthesize material intentionally, connecting the geological environments with the cultural and historical aspects. Faculty from geology, meteorology, and geography will also connect land-based observations with maps through the use of GPS, GIS, and digital geological maps. The timing of the course coincides with the beginning of the K-12 school year. As the cavalcade moves across the state, instructors not only will engage enrolled students, but will also be available to schools in the different areas traversed for special assemblies, presentations, and lab activities. Daily interactive web sessions will allow K-12 students statewide to ask questions of professors and students

Goals for the course include: 1) an introduction to the disciplines of geology and geography, emphasizing field-based observations and interdisciplinary connections; 2) development of an early interest in the fields, which will lead to early declaration of majors. Early declaration not only helps ensure completion of coursework in a timely fashion, but also increases the potential for student research in the last half of the university experience; and 3) an increase in student retention by building relationships between students and by developing mentoring relationships with faculty early in the academic career. Students will develop fieldbooks for daily observations and activities, and will be encouraged to post blogs on the website of the Kentucky Geographic Alliance and departmental homepage. Introducing the scientific method to students through hands-on field work should provide motivation for ongoing engagement with the geological and geographical sciences. There will be coverage by the local and statewide media, emphasizing local points of geological and geographical interest across the Commonwealth.