3 Advancements in undergraduate education: connecting classrooms to research and careers in sustainable geology
We welcome all contributions related to undergraduate education in topics of all disciplines in solid Earth geosciences that aim at preparing students for careers and/or academic research in topics on sustainable geology.
Sunday, 22 March 2026
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
CCC, Room 26
What's in a Lab: Exploring Qualitative Data with Undergraduate Students
Paper number: 3-4
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:05 AM – 9:25 AM
Authors
Abstract
Introductory courses are often students' primary entrypoint into any branch of the geosciences. Despite this, there is a recognized disconnect between students' incoming science literacy and established instuctional custom. To address this, activities for introductory courses should be rooted in students prior knowledge and prioritize filling gaps which will impede their progress. An activity introducing students to qualitative coding and query-based interpretation using published geoscience research materials will be presented along with debrief, literacy supports, and troubleshooting materials.
Student responsiveness to procedural challenges related to prior knowledge vary with the extent required to begin an activity; encountering a challenge mid-activity seems to be a significantly lower barrier to progress than encountering a challege in the beginning of an activity. Overall, student experience with observation and reporting was significantly lower than prior knowledge of climate discourse, mantle structure, and continental cycles.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 2
doi: 10.1130/abs/2026NE-411500
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