Integration of Computer-Based Technology into Geology Field Course

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The summer field course is the single most important undergraduate geology course because it unifies all the diverse aspects of the science. Unlike other parts of a geology curriculum, the field course in most colleges has remained unchanged dor several decades. This project adds a new dimension to traditional field training by integrating it with several new computer-based technologies that are currently revolutionizing the earth sciences. Through the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Satellites (GPS), computer mapping, and 3-D visualization, the new field course teaches students how these technologies can be utilized to improve their ability to handle the increasingly difficult task of dealing with the large and diverse data sets needed to solve today's complex problems. When the new technologies are used in a classical field course, the traditional emphasis on data collection can be shifted to data synthesis and interpretation. Students' critical thinking skills can only be enhanced by such a change. Formulation and testing of hypotheses based upon field data are a cornerstone of the new curriculum. As a result, students can be better prepared for the interdisciplinary role that today's geologist must play in dealing with complex problems.