Pop Rocks! Engaging first-year geology students by deconstructing and correcting scientific misconceptions in popular culture. A Practice Report

• Main Author: Leslie Almberg
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Queensland University of Technology 2011-07-01
• Series: International Journal of the First Year in Higher Education
• Subjects: student engagement, geology, science
• Online Access: https://fyhejournal.com/article/view/85

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 1cm 18pt 0cm; line-height: normal; text-align: justify; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none;"><em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: &quot;Cambria&quot;,&quot;serif&quot;;">Popular culture abounds with ill-conceived notions about Earth&rsquo;s processes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Movies, books, music, television and even video games frequently misrepresent fundamental scientific principles, warping viewers&rsquo; perceptions of the world around them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>First year geoscience students are not immune to pop culture&rsquo;s portrayal of earth science and the misconceptions they bring to Geology 101 cloud their ability to differentiate between fact and fiction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Working within an action research context, a semester-long assessment was designed with the intent to highlight and subsequently challenge students&rsquo; misconceptions using examples of &ldquo;bad geoscience&rdquo; from pop culture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Students were required to practice and refine generic skills within this context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>This project succeeded in engaging students, but requires refinement to become more effective in enhancing their geoscience literacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></em></p>