COLBY COLLEGE FROM A GEOLOGIST'S PERSPECTIVE: BUILDING STONES AS TEACHING TOOLS

Behind every rock is a story of continents colliding, volcanoes erupting, or sediments settling quietly on an ancient seafloor. Today, rocks that were once part of a cataclysmic mountain building event may sit quietly in a library staircase, unnoticed in the façade of an old building, or at the entrance of your own front door. The Department of Geology at Colby College has taken advantage of building stones across campus to alleviate the well-known challenge of large introductory classes viewing oft-cramped roadside outcrops. A field guide to the geology of building stones on Colby’s campus provides a means to study the geologic history of the stones, most of which are quarried locally, while learning about their practical application in industry. Exercises that illustrate science in society may have a greater impact on students who are taking introductory geology as non-science majors. Furthermore, the field guide’s application is designed to be flexible so that it can be used either as a stand-alone laboratory exercise, homework assignment, or a tool for K-12 educators.

The field guide includes a campus map with buildings of interest labeled. General information is provided regarding the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, all three of which are represented on Colby’s campus. More detailed information is provided for the buildings of interest, and includes the geologic history and tectonic setting of the building stone, as well as the quarry location and history, if applicable. The field guide is intended to be the core to which numerous exercises can be appended with varied durations and levels of engagement.