Combining a historical geology project with a campus student organization's fundraising efforts

Journal of Geoscience Education, Sep 2003 by Guertin, Laura A, Nguyen, Catherine

STUDENT FEEDBACK

Before the event, out of shear curiosity, Guertin passed a sheet around the classroom asking students to guess the amount of money that would be raised for THON with this project. Predictions ranged from $5 to $700. Almost half the class estimated that we would collect $50 or less. Even with these low values, student enthusiasm for the project was strong before, during, and after the project was completed. At the end of the project, the GEOSC 021 students collected the change placed along the time scale and donated the money to THON. THON counted the 237 quarters, 673 dimes, 801 nickels, and 914 pennies for a total donation of $175.74.

Every student agreed that combining efforts with THON was an excellent idea, and knowing that the effort they were putting forth would help kids with cancer made them even more committed to doing their best job for a good cause, not just for a good grade. Students commented that they hope more projects will incorporate helping a good cause in the curriculum. The strongest feedback students provided was the sense of 'privilege' in taking part of this event. Many student comments were offered on how they enjoyed this type of nontraditional assignment, that it wasn t "just another simple, boring term paper." Students also appreciated having to share and prove their knowledge to others, and that they had to learn the material to be able to explain it to students, teachers, and complete strangers. Thomas (2001) included a service learning component with his geologic time "rock project" where his students must present their work to K-12 science classes. He agrees that although it is difficult to assess, it has been his experience that students who will present poor-quality work to a professor will dramatically improve their performance for presentation to the public.

FUTURE MODIFICATIONS TO PROJECT

All THON members agreed that Change Thru Geologic Time would be adopted as an annual THON event, improved each year to include more participation, more publicity, and a larger financial contribution. Members feel that this fun class project can create more campus awareness and invite people to participate in the fight against cancer.

Some modifications will be made to the geoscience contribution to strengthen the project in the future. The written 11x17 inch summaries will not continue. Some students noted that it was difficult for the people attending the event to bend over and read the summaries on the floor, and that the visitors were much more interested in having the students talk about their subject. Since it would be very difficult for the instructor to go around to all sixty students the day of the event and verify their knowledge, students will hand in a short paper demonstrating that the background research was completed.

A few students recommended that the project be held later in the spring semester. Some students thought that by having the project outdoors, more money might be raised. Some students felt that the geologic time scale might have more meaning to them if they learned about all the events first. However, the project will take place early in the semester in the gym so that students get the perspective of scale before too much is covered in the text.