EVALUATING ODP SANDS AT A 2-YEAR COLLEGE USING A REMOTELY-ACCESSED SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE

In earth science classes at Valencia College in Orlando, FL, students remotely-access a scanning electron microscope (SEM), housed at the Florida Center for Analytical Electron Microscopy in Miami, FL to conduct Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) and inquiry-based learning. As part of a semester long sands investigation, students use the SEM and ice-rafted debris literature to analyze quartz sand grain surface textures from ODP sediment cores to determine climate-related, ice-rafting transport and deposition mechanisms. Students work in teams of 4, completing jigsaw activities to calibrate observation criteria and to develop “local” expertise. Teams rotate through using the SEM to determine depositional environment and then provide a report of their findings.

This project was developed in June of 2015 during a summer MSI-REaCH (Minority Serving Institutions - Reconstructing Earth’s Climate History) faculty development workshop at Gulf Coast Repository, Texas A&M College Station. The workshop provided access to core samples and ongoing mentoring in developing the curriculum and materials. Through this project, non-majors at Valencia College have been introduced to methods of doing earth science in an inclusive and engaging manner in a non-lab setting. Additionally, this type of project works very well for 2-year and 4-year colleges with limited resources and equipment and provides an opportunity for students at these institutions to participate in high-impact activities. So far, students have been very responsive to using the instrumentation and they rate the SEM/EDS activities very highly.