MOUNTAINS AROUND US PROJECT: INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

The Mountains Around Us (MAU) project engages introductory geology students to identify prominent features in the areas surrounding Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College (AB-Tech) while instilling them with a deeper knowledge of geology, maps, computer skills, and research. This type of inquiry-based learning is shown to provide benefits beyond the classroom and creates a unique learning experience for community college students. The AB-Tech Campus is located in the city of Asheville, North Carolina within the French Broad River Valley and is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. The view from the campus is a nearly unobstructed 360-degree view of the surrounding mountains. Students use photography, topographic maps, and compass bearings to produce visual representations identifying the mountain ranges, peaks, valleys, and other prominent landmarks visible from selected viewpoints on the campus. The project is set continue throughout several semesters with different groups of students making additions with a goal of producing a collection of visual resources for students, visitors, and professors to reference. The MAU project integrates knowledge learned in class and engages students to apply those skills to create an end-product that will benefit the AB-Tech community.