The Environmental Geology of Your Home:

A Capstone Project in an Environmental Geology Course for Non-Majors

Michael Phillips

Geology Instructor

Illinois Valley Community College

Oglesby, Illinois

Environmental Geology: Goals

• Introduction to the science of geology

• Focus on applied aspects of geology

• Appeal to students’ current interests

• Deliver information that the students can use long after completion of the course

Term Project Goals

• Apply concepts covered in class and lab– project sections align with lab and text

• Work throughout the semester– project work is integrated with lab exercises

• Examine an area familiar to the student– square mile section in which they live

• Acquaint students with resources– students use public information resources

Project Outline

• Introduction– Location of study area - county, township,

range, and section– Description of study area - past and present

land use, overall topography, etc.– General overview of findings - a summary of

the report findings

Project Outline

• Natural Resources– topics: soils, surface water, groundwater,

mineral resources– discuss: availability, past and current use– resources: USDA soil surverys, state water

resource records, geologic publications– contact: local government (ie. municiple water

supplier)

Project Outline

• Natural Hazards– topics: flooding, landslides, earthquakes,

wetlands, radon gas, etc.– discuss: hazardous areas, historic events, past

and current responses– resources: FEMA (web site), state and local

agency documents and reports– contact: local ESDA office

Project Outline

• Human-Induced Hazards– topics: polluted areas, pollution sources, human

effects on natural hazards, mine subsidence– discuss: hazardous areas, historic events, past

and current responses– resources: USEPA (web site), state and local

agencies (including database lists and FIOA requests)

– contact: state EPA, local fire department

Project Outline

• Plans for Future Use– topics: past and current land-use plans – discuss: adequacy of current plans, suggestions

for change– resources: local planning agency

Project Outline

• Conclusions:summarize the most important findings

• References: all sources

• Figures: maps, diagrams, photographs

Presentation of Project

• Research Paper– Content (not page) requirement– Must be referenced

• Oral Presentation– Briefly present key findings– Still working the bugs out

Project Grade

• Rubrik distributed to students

• Basis– required elements– depth of research– insight and interpretation

Disadvantages

• Compiling resources

• Tracking progress

• Grading projects at semester’s end

Advantages

• Students have a meaningful report

• Semester-long schedule reduces last-minute efforts

• Capstone project reflects students’ understanding of course material

• Very interesting reading for the instructor

Thank You

Michael Phillips

Illinois Valley Community College

http://www.ivcc.edu/phillips/

mphillip@ivcc.edu