Course overview
Volcanoes; the only earth process not trying to kill Australians. Why is it that we have no active volcanoes? Will that always be the case? Why does Australia have earthquakes? Could we have a 10.0 magnitude quake? As Will Durant said "Civilisation exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice". Enrol in Planet Earth to find answers to these questions. We'll play games of stones, where you'll learn to classify every mineral and rock you're bound to see in your life. Field trips will take us to the coast to see rocks in their natural habitat, you'll learn how to read history from the Earth, and enjoy the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to the real world. Successful completion of this course will allow continuation to Level II Geology courses.
Course learning outcomes
- Demonstrate proficiency in practical skills relevant to an introductory geology course
- describe the earth's interior, including the structure, composition, and magnetic field
- explain the internal processes acting on the Earth
- describe the theory of plate tectonics and relate this theory to geologic processes and structures such as volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain chains, continents and ocean floors
- understand and describe the formation and physical properties of minerals and rocks and use that knowledge to identify them
- describe rock processes in terms of plate tectonics
- explain earth structures and be able to distinguish three-dimensional rock structures and faults from geologic maps
- use information learned in class and develop observation skills to be able to recognize the various geological features and materials the earth is constructed from in the field.