11 Geoscience Education in the Western U.S and México. Practices, Pathways, and Partnerships.
Promotes the exchange of educational practices, and collaborations between U.S.A. and México to strengthen geoscience education, fostering academic networks, pedagogical innovation, and collaborative training for students and faculty.
Wednesday, 22 April 2026
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
LMH, Deli
Instructional Practices in a Physical Geology Course for Geological Engineering Students at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico
Paper number: 11-2
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 1:55 PM – 2:15 PM
Authors
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Laura Mori Presenting AuthorFacultad de Ingenieria, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ciudad de Mexico, CDMX
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Enrique Gonzalez TorresFacultad de Ingenieria, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ciudad de Mexico, CDMX
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Fernanda Carrillo SanchezFaculdad de Ingenieria, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ciudad de Mexico, CDMX
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Marian Ortiz OrtizFacultad de Ingenieria, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ciudad de Mexico, CDMX
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Gail Martinez RuizFacultad de Ingenieria, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ciudad de México, CDMX
Abstract
The Physical Geology course in the Geological Engineering program at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico represents students’ first formal encounter with the Earth Sciences and plays a key role in the development of their professional identity. In this course, students learn to identify Earth materials and relate them to geological processes operating within the tectonic, rock, and hydrological cycles, within an engineering-oriented framework.
In order to promote meaningful learning and strengthen student motivation at this early stage of the degree program, we adopt a student-centered approach in which content delivery is combined with learning activities such as conceptests, concept sketches, lecture tutorials, and the classification of mineral and rock samples. These activities are assessed qualitatively and solved collaboratively during class time, allowing students to make mistakes, receive immediate feedback, and consolidate their understanding.
A key element of the course is the use of case studies and complementary learning experiences that help connect theoretical concepts with professional practice. Through the analysis of recent or socially relevant geological events, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, mass movements, floods, subsidence, and issues related to groundwater and mineral resources, students examine the geological processes, the natural and anthropogenic factors that affect their development, and their impacts on society. This approach highlights the role of geological engineers in resource exploration and geological hazard mitigation while strengthening analytical and critical thinking skills.
The course concludes with a field experience in which students apply the competencies developed throughout the semester to the analysis of real geological outcrops.
In this presentation, we will share some of the activities and instructional practices implemented in the Physical Geology course and discuss their contribution to student engagement, critical thinking, and meaningful learning.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 3
doi: 10.1130/abs/2026CD-410851
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