94196 - Basics and Teaching Tools of Geology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student knows: (a) the endogenous and exogenous processes of planet Earth and those that characterize the dynamic evolution of the lithosphere; (b) the fundamentals of crustal deformations; (c) the different architectures of sedimentary successions and their stratigraphic structure; (d) the basics to classifiy minerals and rocks, the mineral-petrographic genesis and for the reading of geological and geomorphological maps; (e) the fundamentals of geological risk and its characteristics in the interactions between natural phenomena and anthropic activities.

Course contents

• The fundamentals of the discipline with particular reference to the earth sciences targets as reported in the guidelines for secondary school: Earth in space; the surface of the planet (endogenous and exogenous processes); minerals and rocks (definition and recognition, classification elements); geological time and fossils; sedimentary successions and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions; volcanoes (forms and products of volcanic activity) and earthquakes (their meaning and distribution, the tsunamis); the structure of the Earth in a geodynamic perspective; plate tectonic; the geological maps; the future of Earth (climate change and palaeoclimatology).
• The interactions between geological processes and anthropic activity. Geological risks: forecasting, prevention and mitigation. Climate change and management of groundwater resources.

• The teaching of evolving geology: (1) analysis and resolution of the most common misconceptions in the didactics of geology; (2) methods of geology and the scientific method in comparison; (3) strategies for teaching geology: from teaching of Luigi Bombicci to the online teaching in the post covid-19 world; (4) outdoor teaching: using the territory and its museums, as an educational resource.

Course admission requirements Knowledge of the basic topic in Earth Sciences commonly learned in natural sciences courses and/or at the secondary school.

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching material used during the lectures, as well as scientific articles, book chapters and other edu support from the specialized literature will be provided during the course by the teachers

Selected references:

1. 1. Bosellini A. 2020. Le Scienze della Terra, minerali e rocce, vulcani, terremoti, tettonica delle placche, atmosfera, clima. Zanichelli ed.
   2. Grotzinger JP, Jordan Thomas H, 2016. Capire la Terra. Zanichelli ed., pp. 752.
   3. Ricci Lucchi M, 2019. La Terra, un'introduzione al pianeta vivente. Zanichelli ed., pp. 256.
   4. Canuti P, Crescenti U, 2008. Geologia Applicata all’Ambiente, CEA ed., pp. 448.
   5. Klein C, Philpotts AR, 2018. Mineralogia e Petrografia. Zanichelli ed., pp. 532.
   6. Chris King (2008) Geoscience education: an overview, Studies in Science Education, 44:2, 187-222.
   7. Hazen RM, Breve storia della Terra, Milano, Il Saggiatore ed., 2017, pp. 430.

Teaching methods

Frontal lecture in classroom and field, group work. The lectures aim to present different teaching approaches to motivate the student to learn Earth sciences. Group work will be finalised to facilitate active and collaborative learning between students and teachers.

Assessment methods

The verification of the learning takes place through presentation and discussion of a didactic unit on a subject agreed with  teachers. The evaluation will take into account the quality of the design and teaching materials. A short oral exam will follow.

Teaching tools

Personal computer, video projector, power-point presentations, optical microscopy lab. edu. collections of minerals, rocks and fossils.

Office hours

See the website of Stefano Claudio Vaiani

See the website of Alessandro Gargini

See the website of Roberto Braga

See the website of Veronica Rossi