SPARKS: SHORT PETROLOGY ACTIVITIES FOR RAISING KNOWLEDGE IN STUDENTS

In teaching Earth Materials, effective pedagogy that aligns with contemporary student and societal needs is crucial. We introduce SPARKS (Short Petrology Activities to Raise Knowledge in Students), a novel library of brief classroom activities designed to enrich Petrology and Earth Materials courses. Principally, SPARKS provide a collection of generally 1-5-minute activities that promote active learning and break up traditional lecture formats, fostering a more student-centered learning environment. By leveraging concise, impactful activities as quick warmups, mid-lecture breaks, or introductory exercises, SPARKS support a punctuated lecture style, enhancing traditional lectures with student-driven interactions. The SPARKS library also provides resources to educators with curated lists sourced from community input including commonly used analogies and learning outcomes.

The genesis of SPARKS occurred at the 2023 Teaching Petrology Workshop, where a need for more engaging yet brief Petrology activities was identified. Many conversations at the workshop described excellent teaching demonstrations and brief hands-on activities for Mineralogy classrooms, whereas Petrology seemed to be lacking. This initiative aims to fill that gap by compiling a list of practical ideas for instructors. Initially targeting one activity for each common Petrology topic area, the SPARKS library continues to grow thanks to the generous contributions of the teaching community. SPARKS analogies help students connect their learning to their world experiences and also have the potential to inspire entirely new SPARKS-like activities.

Active learning techniques have been shown to significantly enhance student engagement, critical thinking skills, and overall academic success. SPARKS capitalize on these benefits, seamlessly integrating activities into seemingly any class structure. By fostering curiosity and enhancing communication skills, SPARKS prepares students to engage thoughtfully with the world, embodying the geologist's mindset. A key feature of SPARKS is they provide opportunities to foster a classroom that nurtures belonging, accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion. For instance, multiple activities aim at tapping into students' prior knowledge, an approach identified to help close the achievement gap among diverse student populations.