T179 Geoscience Apps on the Web and in Your Hand (Posters)

Tuesday, 6 November 2018
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Halls J-K

STUDENT-GENERATED ANIMATED GIFS AS A STUDY TOOL FOR ROCK AND MINERAL IDENTIFICATION

Paper number: T179-6
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

During an introductory Physical Geology course, students created animated GIFs as a way to help classmates study for rock and mineral identification exams. Surprisingly, internet searches for mineral GIFs produce sparse results that are not useful for practicing identification. The GIF creation was a low-threat requirement (3 points on a 15 point homework) for a mineral report, and students could create another GIF on a mineral or rock as a way to earn bonus points before the rock and mineral exam. Students were given a wide range of options and instructions for creating the GIFs, and all students already had the resources required for generating GIFs on their issued computers. Students shared the GIFs on the web-based course management system, and students still had the option of coming to the geology lab to study hand samples before the exam. To avoid the possibility of students simply memorizing unique features or sample labels, the hand samples used in the exam were not taken from the same rock suites and minerals kits. We will highlight a range of feedback comments, along with a comparison of student test scores from previous semesters without the GIF assignment. Examples of the animated GIFs will be available at the poster.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 50, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2018AM-324080

© Copyright 2018 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.