How the Earth Works Lab

This 1 credit course is intended to serve as an opportunity to directly observe and inquire about materials and processes which make up the Earth. Geology is the study of the Earth and the goal of this lab is to give you, the Kent State University liberal arts student, a chance to be involved directly in that study.

Scientific study is a process whereby questions about the real world are asked, experiments and observations are made to test the question, and conclusions are based upon how well the observations answer the questions. Scientists are not all geeks – some are actually normal people who are curious about the world they live in. Science is not just for scientists because it is the approach that makes all aspects of our lives possible.  Earth Sciences, including Geology, ask and answer questions about the physical world we live in, its resources and their uses, environmental impacts, and natural disasters.

The laboratory in How the Earth Works Laboratory (GEOL 11041) is designed to use a combination of experiments and observations that provide answers to questions pertaining to nearly all areas of study for students majoring in virtually all areas.  We will explore the materials making up the Earth and how they are used; the water on the surface and beneath the surface to consider the impact we have on that critical resource; and the disasters that occur around the globe including earthquakes, volcanic activity, landsliding, and others.

GEOLOGY 11040 – How the Earth Works – is a pre-requisite or co-requisite for this lab course.  Each lab is designed to be completed in about 1 hour 45 minutes.  Typically, the projects are group efforts, working with 3 or 4 other students.  All the labs will be held in McGilvrey Hall, Room 236, with the exception of the fieldtrip.

Lab Course Pack

All of the exercises and their explanations are printed in a course pack available at Wordsmiths, 402 East Main Street.  The instructor's name is Rodney Feldmann.  Students must have the course pack prior to the first laboratory so that the first exercise can be completed.

Assignments and Grading

For each lab the instructor will make a brief presentation explaining the exercise to be completed during the lab period and will discuss relevant aspects of the projects to be undertaken.  The exercises will typically be completed by a small group of students, but each student must write the answers to questions in their own words.  Exercises will be handed in at the end of the class period, and instructors will grade them and return them during the next lab period.  Your grade will be based upon your performance on the exercises and on a final take home exam involving the writing of a report on some of the observations made throughout the semester.

Free Tutoring by experienced Geology graduate students, lab instructors and advanced undergraduates begins in Week 3 of each semester.

Geology Department

The Geology Department at KSU is an active, vibrant, and fun center for the study of Earth materials, processes, and history. We have ~15 faculty members who teach and do research in many different fields of Geology. The department currently has about 70 undergraduate majors (both B.A. and B.S.) and 30 graduate students (M.S. and Ph.D.). The Kent State Geological Society (KSGS) is one of the more active societies on campus and you are encouraged to become a member of it. The society holds informal fieldtrips throughout the year and each fall semester holds a picnic in one of the nearby parks.

Students with Disabilities

In accordance with University policy, if you have a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester or when given an assignment for which an accommodation is required. Students with disabilities must verify their eligibility through the Office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS) in the DeWeese Health Center on Kent Campus.