Initial Publication Date: June 19, 2015

511D. Design an Effective Field Experience

Co-sponsored by NAGT and the Geoscience Education Division of GSA
Conveners: David Mogk, Montana State University and Steven Whitmeyer, James Madison University

November 3, 2012 - 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Part of the '2012 GSA Short Course 4-Pack'

This workshop has already been convened. Details of the workshop activities and outcomes are posted below.

Workshop description

Learning in the field can be one of the most enriching experiences for our students in the Earth science curriculum. This workshop will help participants design and implement a field experience to optimize learning by your students. We define field experiences broadly to include any number of instructional activities such as exploring, collecting, monitoring, and mapping outside the classroom and in Nature. Topics that will be covered include definition of learning goals for your students and in your field setting, planning logistics, preparation of students to be ready to learn in the field, alignment of field activities with the learning goals, and assessments of learning outcomes. Workshop products will be a fully developed plan for your next class field experience, and for inclusion in the NAGT Field Guide database.

Workshop program

The workshop will use the page Designing Field Experiences on the Cutting Edge website as the framework for the workshop program. This online tutorial gives step-by-step advice on how to design an effective field learning experience. Topics include: 1) Background Resources, 2) Considerations of why the field environment is important (or different), 3) Setting learning goals, 4) Assessing Learning in the Field, 5) Preparing to go in the field (picking the field sites, logistics, faculty preparation, student preparation), Activity Design, Pedagogic Strategies, Use of technology in the field, Safety and Geoethics.

Resources on Teaching and Learning in the Field


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