Some of the students who choose Introduction to Earth Science, as their physical science general education requirement class, are creating web pages in the lab portion of the course. The webpage assignment may be substituted for one test. Although the topic is of the student's choosing, the assignment must be related to the material covered on the test they opted out of and must expand upon a lab exercise from the textbook: Johnston, P., Aber, S. W., Sleezer, R., and Morales, M. (2000). Introduction to Earth Science Lab (5th ed.). Edina, Minnesota: Burgess International Group, Inc. The webpages are submitted for a grade and then edited by their teacher, not to change the student's content, but to enhance spelling and referencing. The pages are creative, informative, and worth viewing. Just over one-third of the students are participating and many of their projects are online for your inspection! Simply choose a semester to find a specific person or visit a topic of interest from the tables below.
The Spring 1998 semester was the first time this option was given in the earth science lab. Of the 75 students total, divided among two classes, 23 chose the webpage option, for a 31% participation rate. In the Fall 1998 semester, 8 out of 17 students or 47% created webpages. In the Spring 1999 semester, 9 out of 40, divided among two classes, or 23% participated; while in the Fall 1999 semester there was 42% participation, that is 5 out of 12 students created webpages. Observations from this data, whether a coincidence or trend, show that more students participate in the web option in the fall semester and in the classes with fewer students.
The students are given very specific grading guidelines, with an emphasis currently on learning this presentation format. Only 30% of the grade is for content, although this will increase as this relatively new medium becomes more commonplace with university students. For the remaining 70% of the final grade, each of the following guidelines is worth 10%: title and name; introduction to theme, that includes reference to the lab in the text with which the topic is related; equivalent to three printed pages minimum; four links, two internal and two external; proper referencing, email address and date of creation; pleasing layout and style.
Considering a grading system in which A is the highest score possible, F is the lowest, and C is an average score, the overall average for webpages is currently a B+. As for the breakdown in grades, the spring 1998 semester averaged a B- with a range from D- to A+. The grades that followed were higher averages: fall 1998, A-; spring 1999, B+; fall 1999, A-.
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This page originates from the Earth Science
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Susan Ward Aber.
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Spring 1998 Fall 1998 Spring 1999 Fall 1999
Floyd Ellison
Steve Allen
Brian Davis
Monica Hansen
Rob Salmonson
Robert Almanza
Meagan Baalman
Kari Bitler
India Dennis-Mahmood
Vicki Freeman
Stephanie Hart
Corrie Jackson
Derek Messner
Jami Munsell
Justin Smith
Katie Solon
Matt Johnson
Amy Thompson
Jason Baker
Jim Riedesel
Amber Silvy
Leon Brigham
Damon Campbell
Charles Hudson
Debbie Simpler
Jenny Sommer
Jennifer Denning
Marc Heinitz
Frank Lee
Michele Medrano
Kran Chiravanich
Annette Kessler
Judy Boyce
Jolie McIlvain
Spring 2000 Spring 2002
Mike Schneller
Danielle Grunz
Crystal McDaniel
Brett M. Cox
Pamala Dean
Case Green
Joe Jones
Jamie Maledon
Lea Meyer
Sheryl Shirley
Jenni Weller
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