The Geology of
Lasalle County: an Example of a College-sponsored,
Non-credit Mini-course for the General Public
Many Colleges and Universities offer non-credit mini-courses as part of their community outreach or continuing education programs; the directors of these programs are constantly seeking new instructors with interesting topics. At the same time, many communities are in need of an unbiased source of information about the earth and how it works, and geologists are seeking a forum in which to share their expertise. Continuing education programs offer an excellent opportunity for geologists to educate their community about geology and geologic processes. The benefits of using a community outreach program include the use of an established forum, logistical support, and free advertisement; in addition, most programs also provide a small stipend. Secondary benefits include an opportunity to meet people interested in geology and establish expertise with those people; mini-course students often include local teachers and members of local organizations concerned with the environment. "The Geology of LaSalle County" is a mini-course sponsored by Illinois Valley Community College. The course requires no prerequisite knowledge or experience. The first three hours are spent in the classroom and includes a primer on the three rock types, fossils, and plate tectonics followed by a discussion of the aspects found in LaSalle County. Slides and hand specimens are used to emphasize the concepts. The final three hours are spent exploring the geology of a local state park. The field portion focuses on observation and interpretation of various geologic features and processes. The first step in this process is to pick a topic and contact the continuing education department of the nearest college or university. |