A GIS activity for Introductory Geology

Martin F. Schmidt Jr.

Description of activity

As an ongoing exercise throughout an introductory geology class, students will use geospatial technology to develop a geospatial database/catalog/map of places of geologic interest, for which they can explain the geologic processes occurring at these places.

They will make Google Earth placemarks and point shapefiles in ArcMap for these places. As the tools develop, we might use an online tool such as ArcGIS Explorer online.

Evaluation: Mainly “Did they do it?” To answer that, students will share their databases with the class.

Geoscience goals. Students will:

Recognize that the best source of information for a geology course is the Earth itself, and use virtual ways of looking at the Earth in order to learn geologic subjects.

Be able to connect real places and geologic processes in both directions: Given a place, describe geologic processes there, or given a process, be able to describe place examples.

Demonstrate a good geographical knowledge - they have the Earth "in their head".

Geospatial technology goals. Students will:

Develop proficient use of Google Earth and ArcMap through frequent use, so this becomes their "go to" method for geospatial work, as easy and normal as using a word processor is for their writing, or “Google it” for needing information.

Includes competence in (a) using and organizing placemarks in Google Earth; and (b) map navigation, use of coordinates, & editing (mainly point shapefiles) in ArcMap.

Recognize a GIS is a database/catalog connected to a map as they build their own database, so they understand this technology can be used to make a GIS as a connected database-map for any geospatially connected data.

Be able to use geospatial technology to produce maps for reports/projects/posters.