This is a textbook for teaching data science using the Python programming language at a general first year undergraduate level.
This is a textbook for teaching data science using the R programming language at a general first year undergraduate level.
Data talks are short 5-10 minute classroom discussions to help students develop data literacy. This pedagogical strategy is similar in structure to a number talk, but instead of numbers students are shown a data visual and asked what interests them.
Students are given 4 hypothetical stratigraphic columns (each roughly 30 m thick) of deltaic deposits, 3 base maps with section locations, and a map scale. Students subdivide the stratigraphic units into subfacies and interpret subenvironments (delta plain, delta front, prodelta, marine) and describe/list features used to make these interpretations. Using depositional interpretations, 3 bentonite marker beds, and paleocurrent information, students draw 3 successive paleogeographic maps of the region showing delta migration through time.
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A demonstration (with full class participation) to illustrate radioactive decay by flipping coins. Shows students visually the concepts of exponential decay, half-life and randomness. Works best in large classes -- the more people, the better.
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This module addresses the problem of how to determine the density of the earth and has students do some field experiments to get the data they need to answer the problem.
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This module addresses the problem of how to determine the size of a ton of rocks of a given composition and invites the student to figure out how to solve the problem.
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This module addresses the real problem of determining the density of the Earth and invites the student to figure out how to solve the problem.
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Analyzing three-dimensional orientation data using a stereonet is an important component of any structural geology course, ideally helping students to visualize structural geometry and serving as a springboard for more advanced topics such as fault and fold kinematics. Rather than teaching my students about stereonets using tracing paper and pushpins, I use the newest version of Rick Allmendinger and NÃstor Cardozo's OSXStereonet program, which includes elegant, interactive three-dimensional view options. Simultaneously, I teach students transformation of orientation data between spherical coordinates and Cartesian coordinates, using MATLAB functions to carry out the conversions. We simultaneously solve problems involving orientation data using OSXStereonet and MATLAB, allowing students to gain an understanding of the mathematics that OSXStereonet carries out behind the scenes while using the visualization capabilities of OSXStereonet to reinforce the three-dimensional concepts.
Keywords: Stereonet, OSXStereonet, Matlab, spherical, Cartesian, visualization
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The Smith College Sedimentology course is an example of a course structured around projects, most of which are field based. The projects are carefully designed to take advantage of the local geology and to address a variety of topics. Of utmost importance in designing individual projects is demonstrating the relevance of the work the students do. Therefore the projects are designed to mimic real-life situations: for example, the students address concerns of a local farmer, or have roles as field conference organizers and collaborators (with paleontologists) on a multidisciplinary research project.
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This activity is divided into two parts - 1) Using data from primary literature to calculate mantle potential temperature beneath a ridge and an oceanic island ("hotspot"). 2) Using the transition zone thickness observed beneath a "hotspot" (Hawaii) to analyze contributions from anomalous temperature and composition. In addition to the student activity sheets, an Excel key, instructor notes, and student handouts are included below.
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This activity is a multi-part lab designed to allow students to develop their ability to visualize folds in 3-dimensions using Visible Geology and stereonets.
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The activity is designed to help students conceptualize the spatiotemporal relationships between erosion and deposition across a convex topography, which serves as a proxy for understanding rill and gully formation, knickpoint migration, valley excavation, and the interplay between sediment supply and accommodation across distributary features. The exercise utilizes simplistic flume observations and measurements to generate digital terrain models (DTMs) of generated topographies; by changing individual flume parameters between experimental runs (such as discharge, slope, and sediment type and moisture content), students are able to determine controls on sediment dispersion.
In this quantitative field activity, students collect field data on channel geometry, flow velocity, and bed materials. Using these data, they apply flow resistance equations and sediment transport relations to estimate the bankfull discharge and to determine if the flow is sufficient to mobilize the bed.
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Spreadsheets Across the Curriculum module. Students build spreadsheets to tabulate and graph seismic wave amplitude and energy release to explore the logarithmic scale of earthquake magnitude.
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In this module, students are asked to devise a way of graphically plotting the density variations with depth in the Earth.
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This module explores the combination of densities and shell thicknesses that produce an aggregate density of the Earth of 5.5 g/cm3.
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The purpose of this hands on activity is to experiment with reflectance properties of various surfaces and to gain a better understanding of the effects of the position of the energy source and the detector (azimuth and zenith angles) on the recorded (perceived) brightness.
dragracer is an R package of data sets for all available seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race, excluding All Stars. It’s updated at the end of each season. This blog post describes these data in some detail while also showcasing some of the things you can do with the provided. Steven Miller offers this R package for two reasons. First, the fandom for this show is large and there is a discernible subset of the fandom that is interested in the R programming language. He offers this package as a collection of accessible data with which they can experiment. He also offers this as a love letter of a kind to RuPaul’s Drag Race and all the contestants that have appeared on it.
To complete this activity, students can follow the instructions and the tutorial in the Environmental Health Risk Inventory website. In doing this, they will gain an understanding of how to use on-line tools and databases as well as the processes of compiling an environmental health risk inventory for a specific locale. In the activity, students will address the question: "how healthy is your neighborhood?" Students will address anthropogenic and naturally-occurring health risks in their hometown or neighborhood by using data collected from online mapping tools and databases. Students will also complete a reflective summary based on the data that they collect.
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