Independent Study (“I. S. ”) Field-Based Research Shelley Judge, Wooster Dept of Geology (with contributions from my colleagues, Greg Wiles, Mark Wilson, and Meagen Pollock)
Where is Wooster? • Wooster, Ohio • (~55 mi SSW of Cleveland) • Rural setting http: //www. bestplaces. net/images/city/Wooster_OH. gif
Where is Wooster? • Wooster, Ohio • (~55 mi SW of Cleveland) • Rural setting http: //www. visualadvantagephoto. com/Client-Galleries/Wayne-County-Ag-Bio/Ramseyer-Ag-Tourism 3/667943266_Tdo 94 -S. jpg http: //www. bestplaces. net/images/city/Wooster_OH. gif
Where is Wooster? • Wooster, Ohio • (~55 mi SW of Cleveland) • Rural setting http: //www. bestplaces. net/images/city/Wooster_OH. gif
What is Wooster? • Liberal arts college • ~2000 undergrads • Students from 45 states and 26 countries • 60% students from out of state • Nationally recognized for its teaching and its I. S. program
What is I. S. ? In Theory… • College requires that every undergraduate complete a significant Independent Study project • I. S. has been the culmination of our curriculum in every major for >60 years (since 1944) • Attention given to method, form, and content of the intellectual activity • Emphasis on communication of results
What is I. S. ? In Practice… • Junior Year (1 dedicated course, spring semester) • January: Advisor selected/assigned and project defined • February-April: study the concepts and techniques of geologic research • April: submission of Jr. I. S. thesis (intro, geologic setting, methods) • April: formal graded presentation to the department
What is I. S. ? In Practice… • Summer before Senior Year: Field work • Senior Year (2 dedicated courses, one each semester) • September-March: Live, breathe, and sweat I. S. • Fall and Spring Semesters: formal presentations (2 total) to the department • March: Senior I. S. is due (“I. S. Monday”) • April: Oral defense (student, advisor, additional faculty) • April: Senior Research Symposium (dedicated day of no classes)
What is I. S. ? In Practice… "College presidents and deans consider Wooster's Independent Study one of the best senior capstone programs in the nation, " says U. S. News & World Report.
I. S. Monday: An Academic Parade The Ultimate Exchange: One’s I. S. for a Tootsie Roll and a Button
I. S. Monday: An Academic Parade
I. S. Monday: An Academic Parade
Student Field-Based Research • In the Past Few Years: • • • Estonia Iceland Israel Mongolia (Keck project) Alabama/Mississippi Alaska Ohio Pennsylvania South Dakota Montana (Keck project) Utah
Student Field-Based Research • Megan Innis (below) in Mussel Creek (Alabama) • I. S. Project: The patterns of extinction, survival, and recovery of sclerobionts surrounding the end. Cretaceous mass extinction.
Student Field-Based Research • Colin Mennett coring in Excursion Ridge, Alaska • I. S. Project: Dendrochronology of yellow cedars for use in climate change
Student Field-Based Research • Stephanie Jarvis atop Mount Wright, Alaska • I. S. Project: Climate sensitivity and response of mountain hemlocks at varying elevations in SE Alaska.
Student Field-Based Research • Becky Alcorn at a Quarry in Undirhlithar, Iceland • I. S. Project: Mapping the internal architecture of a subglacial pillow ridge
Student Field-Based Research • Todd Spillman and Rob Lydell at the top of Svinadalsfjall , Iceland • I. S. Projects: Geochemical analyses of subglacial pillow basalts (Todd), and Zeolite distribution study (Rob)
Student Field-Based Research • Andrew Retzler (left) in the Southern Negev Desert, Israel • I. S. Project: Reconstructing the paleoenvironment of a chondrichthyan fauna in the Menuha Fm
Student Field-Based Research • Micah Risacher in the Southern Negev Desert, Israel • I. S. Project: Reconstructing the paleoenvironment the Zihor Fm (with a focus on echinoids)
Student Field-Based Research • Elizabeth Deering and Jesse Davenport in Ephraim, Utah • I. S. Project: Paleoecology of the stromatolite facies of the Eocene Green River Formation, Sanpete County UT
What do the students think? “To be honest, the idea of writing a thesis as an undergrad was something of which I had never heard. I am now in the full grasp of I. S. and thoroughly enjoying it! While the process is challenging and strenuous, the outcome provides individual confidence, reward, and fulfillment. ” “I. S. gave me the necessary skill set in geology to succeed in graduate school. I learned so many important paleo techniques at Wooster that I now feel confident when I have to learn new techniques in grad school. ”
What do the students think? "I. S. sent me to Alaska, duh!" "I. S. is more of a process than a project…you learn to organize, direct, and focus yourself and to work with (in my case) multiple advisors. This is what I will really take out of it and into whatever I do after Wooster. An extra benefit is what you actually learn about your field and your specific project and, of course, the cool places you get to go. "
How I. S. affects the Curriculum • >60 years of collegewide support • Efforts by the Development Office for I. S. funding • 3 dedicated courses in the major • Several “extra” courses (writing focus) • Hours of faculty time
Thanks. Any Questions?
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