Teaching Equipment Use using Round Robin Method Todd

Teaching Equipment Use using Round Robin Method Todd Halihan Oklahoma State University School of Geology

Problems for teaching equipment use 1. Not enough equipment to go around 2. Only instructor knows equipment issues 3. Teamwork in field settings can be problematic (non-Zen)

Include/Prioritize Safety • Signed tailgate meeting form • Order of field operations 1. Safety 2. Equipment 3. Data Quality (Student must understand each component and not change their order!)

The Zen of Fieldwork • Rarely see fist fights in class, not true in field courses • Discuss this with class • Instead of fights, people will actively monitor their distance from Zen (generally walk around repeating “Must be Zen” when equipment or students not cooperating)

Round Robin System • 3 “companies” conducting projects (Encourage company names) • 1 project manager for each company • For three weeks, three projects will be conducted by the three companies • Each project will be written into a letter report detailing results (provide examples)

Simple Round Robin (3 skills in 3 exercises, but exposed 3 times) • Week 1: – Team 1: Basin Assessment – Team 2: Well Rehabilitation – Team 3: Long term monitoring • Week 2: – Team 2: Basin Assessment – Team 3: Well Rehabilitation – Team 1: Long term monitoring • Week 3: – Team 3: Basin Assessment – Team 1: Well Rehabilitation – Team 2: Long term monitoring

Importance of Project Manager • Removes your responsibility for project fuzz – little details that the students can take care of if someone feels responsible • Gives contact for several students in class to communicate info • They understand the different issues that occur as manager instead of just student • Reports are better

Value of Round Robin • First week is difficult as you are teaching 3 pieces of equipment/ approaches simultaneously – quality will suffer • Next weeks are great as student are teaching each other about equipment and use • Seeing equipment in some capacity 3 x reinforces concepts

Responsibilities • Grad Students/Seniors – 1 st project managers – Training managers • Equipment prep and cleaning – KISS method • Course Logistics – Departure time – Departure method

Beware • Single disgruntled student can wreck project • Need to manage as quickly as possible • Set expectations early • Single biggest problem in field classes • Cultivate cheerleaders

Include peer evaluation • Student perform better when the group evaluates their own performance • Key metrics – % of contribution (to field and to reporting) – Ranking of contribution – Easily see who the group felt performed and who sat back

Provide examples • Give example reports • Give example field situation practice – Zen of Fieldwork – Angry landowner