Return to: [Eosc452 home ] Journals for Eosc452: 2006

Every student is required to work on a learning journal during the term. In Eosc451 you were asked to identify 3 goals you hoped to achieve and write entries with these in mind. This time we want you to choose a subdiscipline of geophysics and use the journal entries to relate content and work in this course to that area of interest.

Why Journals? Because it is well known that a higher level of learning is attained when the learner reflects on facts, procedures, skills, applications, and other course content. Reflection means thinking about the material within a self-imposed context, rather than simply working to reproduce information for tests or lab assignments. Previous students in eosc351 and eosc451/452 have started out considering journals a chore. However, most found that journalling did in fact provide them with a deeper appreciation for how the subject will impact them as professionals.

• In week 1, choose a sub-discipline of geophysics that you are particularly interested in. Examples are: hydrogeology, oil/gas exploration, mineral exploration, archeology, environmental site characterization, geotechnical engineering, scientific earth sciences and others.
• Write an initial entry introducing your interests in the earth sciences, and outlining how you hope this course might contribute to those interests.
  • This first entry is due 1 week after the first lecture.
• Before the midterm break, write 3-4 journal entries on how material learned during this course impacts your chosen discipline.
• Before the end of term, write 2-4 more entries.
• Your last journal entry must summarize how this course has affected your understanding of how geophysics can contribute in your chosen area of the geosciences.
• Each entry should be roughly one page, plus figures or sketches if appropriate.
• Here are a few examples of possible entries. Variety of entry type is important so don't write all your journal entries in the same way.
• Describe how the current new content might apply to a hypothetical problem in your discipline.
• Discuss a problem that might be encountered if the current new technique is applied to a problem in your discipline. Examples include
• noise sources,
• depth penetration problems,
• a discrepancy between the method's resolution and the target dimensions,
• incompatibility between physical properties of the problem and those the method responds to.
• Summarize a paper you have read that illustrates how material from our course applies to a problem in your discipline.
• Reflect upon whether the material you are learning appears to be useful for your chosen discipline.
• Journals may be electronic or hand written, but legibility is of course important. Hand drawn sketches illustrating a point, scanned or photocopied images, etc. are encouraged.
• Marking: Here's how to target a particular grade for the journal portion of your final mark:
• D = fewer than minimum number of entries; half-hearted attempts at completeness and consistency, no use of the literature at all.
• C = Minimum number of entries (the initial entry plus 6 more), adequate attention to presentation details, only two or three types of entries (four types are suggested above), little or no reference to current literature.
• B = Between 6 and 8 entries, clear presentation style, more than three types of entries (four types are suggested above), referencing is adequate, at least one reference to current literature or journal articles.
• A = Between 8 and 10 entries, exceptional attention to details of presentation, accuracy and referencing, several imaginative types of entries, including references to 3^rd party literature and/or journal articles.

An example of an early journal entry is given here.