THE GEOSCIENCE GARDEN: A SIMULATED FIELD ENVIRONMENT FOR GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION

Teaching the techniques of field geology to Earth Science students is challenging in an area of almost flat-lying, poorly consolidated, poorly consolidated, poorly exposed sedimentary rocks, such as that which surrounds the University of Alberta. Field trips to more varied terrains are possible, but the distances (~300 km) and climate make this difficulty during a busy packed teaching year that extends from September to April. The Geoscience Garden will be a unique landscaped area on campus in which large (1 - 5 m), boulders and rock slabs will be built into oriented, simulated outcrops and arranged in a layout that represents the geology of western and northern Canada. The garden, currently in process of installation, will provide an artificial field environment in which Earth Science students can develop observational skills, interpret the geometry of the Earth's crust in three dimensions, and discover Earth history. It will also display specimens of mineral deposits in geological context, and illustrate their importance to rural and northern communities. A buried boulder of rock with high magnetic susceptibility will provide a target for introductory geophysical field surveys. The project will add a unique capability for teaching basic field skills to students in a local environment, and will prepare them for field courses at more senior levels. The Geoscience Garden will be used by a variety of courses and programs within the university, and will also be used by K-12 school groups, in teacher education, and by community groups. The success of the installation will be evaluated by surveys of student and user experiences, carried out before and after installation of the garden.