Should Geology Students Be Taught About Rocks In Depth Before Being Taken Into The Field?

There are various schools of thought; it's a debate that has gone on for a number of generations.

However, there can be no doubt that students can benefit enormously from a well thought out field study trip while at school or in the early stages of study at university. Much of the underlying theory of geology comes to life when it is observed in the field. And it is important that students be exposed early on in their studies to comparisons of modern sedimentary processes with those of old formations.

The field trip that is well designed and researched beforehand can be an invaluable teaching aid, enabling lecturers to pose questions rather than supply explanations as might occur in other settings. By doing this early on, we are instilling an important aspect of geology: the need to observe, discuss and draw conclusions. Rather it should not be about being prompted to draw the 'right' conclusion, but for the student to be guided in asking the questions about what is observed.

The tutors role therefore is to discuss, confirm or deny students' interpretations and hypotheses, and to guide them in the process of observation and self conclusion.

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There's no doubt that geology is a subject that should be studied by getting out and about and seeing nature in situ.
It's usual to undertake a few teaching classes and practicals which are followed by field trips.
Most colleges and universities have field centres or the use of these for field trips.Schools are usually given access to them too.
The identification of rocks can be started by text book study then followed by practical classes but there's nothing helps more than a field trip or two to put what you've learnt into practice.

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