teaching field methods in hydrogeology todd halihan shemin ge f. ed harvey (adapted from 2007 gsa...
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Teaching Field Methods in Hydrogeology
Todd HalihanShemin Ge
F. Ed Harvey(adapted from 2007 GSA Short Course)
A Course is Born
• Summer of 2005
• On the Cutting Edge – Professional Development for Geoscience Faculty Workshop: Teaching Hydrogeology in the 21st Century
• Need for people teaching hydrogeology to learn field tools and techniques
Instructors
Shemin Ge F. Ed Harvey Todd Halihan
Teaching Issues
The Good, The Bad, and the Impermeable Layer
5 Components
1.To think
2.To be professional
3.To communicate
4.To be fearless (does not include stupid)
5.To achieve the Zen of fieldwork
The Zen of Fieldwork
• Rarely see fist fights in class, not true in field courses
• Discuss this with class• Instead of fights, people will
actively monitor their distance from Zen (generally walk around repeating “Must be Zen” when equipment or students not cooperating)
Your background
• Math phobic? • 5 senses – data input
– Sight– Hearing– Taste– Touch– Smell
– None of these work for well for ground water problems – need INSTINCTS
Project Course Sites
• http://www.basecamphq.com/
• Project management websites
• Hard to keep people using them
• May be useful for some courses/situations, but students generally just meet somewhere
Round Robin System
• 3 “companies” conducting projects(Encourage company names)
• 1 project manager for each company
• For three weeks, three projects will be conducted by the three companies
• Each project will be written into a letter report detailing results (provide examples)
Importance of Project Manager
• Removes your responsibility for project fuzz – little details that the students can take care of if someone feels responsible
• Gives contact for several students in class to communicate info
• They understand the different issues that occur as manager instead of just student
• Reports are better
Example Round Robin 1
• Project 1: Basin Assessment
• Project 2: Well Rehabilitation
• Project 3: Long term monitoring
• Setup of field site and researching background can be initial projects
• Similar to a Tier 1 investigation
Project 1: Basin Assessment
Project Objectives:1. Delineate basin for Perkins Agricultural
Research Station (PARS)– Area owned by OSU– Surface water controlled area– GW regional area
2. Evaluate existing Literature– Publications– Theses– State/Federal Databases
3. Create Map of Basins
Always clearly delineate objectives
Project 2: Well Rehabilitation
Project Objectives:1. Rehabilitate piezometers
– Sand removal– Any other items removal– Improve piezometer completion
2. Document location of wells– GPS x,y– Survey z
3. Create well label with details
Project 3: Long term monitoring
Project Objectives:1. Establish piezometric monitoring
– Install transducers– Provide bovine protection
2. Establish weather station
3. Take baseline vertical profile data
4. Other?
Simple Round Robin (3 skills in 3 exercises, but exposed 3 times)
• Week 1:– Team 1: Basin Assessment– Team 2: Well Rehabilitation– Team 3: Long term monitoring
• Week 2:– Team 2: Basin Assessment– Team 3: Well Rehabilitation– Team 1: Long term monitoring
• Week 3:– Team 3: Basin Assessment– Team 1: Well Rehabilitation– Team 2: Long term monitoring
Responsibilities
• Grad Students/Seniors– 1st project managers– Training managers
• Equipment prep and cleaning– KISS method
• Course Logistics– Departure time– Departure method
Supplies
• Textbook
• Bound Field Notebook
• Clothing
• Snacks
• Boots – steel toe? Other safety gear?
• Raingear/Snowgear?
Project Notebooks
• Field forms often useful– Collect data needed for analysis– Forget fewer data needed for analysis– Write-in-the-rain paper if possible– Should grade notes as well as reports
Beware
• Single disgruntled student can wreck project
• Need to manage as quickly as possible
• Set expectations early
• Single biggest problem in field classes
• Cultivate cheerleaders
Include peer evaluation
• Student perform better when the group evaluates their own performance
• Key metrics– % of contribution (to field and to reporting)– Ranking of contribution– Easily see who the group felt performed
and who sat back
Provide examples
• Give example reports
• Give example field situation practice– Zen of Fieldwork– Angry landowner
Include/Prioritize Safety
• Signed tailgate meeting form
• Order of field operations1. Safety
2. Equipment
3. Data Quality
(Student must understand each component and not change their order!)
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