GEOPHYSICAL FIELD METHODS: EXPERIENCES FROM AN UNDERGRADUATE COURSE

Integrating field experiences and project-based learning within undergraduate instruction offers many challenges and benefits. Among these is preparing students with the necessary background to perform a field investigation and designing effective instructional material to provide this background. The Geophysical Field Methods course was developed as a way to offer students experience conducting a geophysical survey wherein they had ownership of all stages of the project. While the Geophysical Field Methods course had a necessary lecture component it was designed to keep lecture to a minimum with a primary focus on students performing exercises to gain the necessary background to be able to conduct a geophysical investigation.

Student projects ranged from investigating a gravel seam using seismic reflection, determining soil conditions using Multichannel Analysis of Surface Waves and imaging the internal sedimentary structure of an esker using ground penetrating radar. Each of these projects has both practical and applicable uses within the geologic sciences. Project-based exercises within the classroom provided the background to perform these field investigations by instructing students how to determine an appropriate geophysical method based upon a target of interest, how to design and acquire data for a geophysical survey and how to interpret the results. One of the main learning outcomes from the course was that while the class was intensive students put in long hours to complete the exercises and their projects. Students had a sincere interest as a result of being able to apply what they had learned from the classroom exercises and from performing the work at all stages of their project.