A Service-Learning Component in a Paleontology Course as a Model for Community Outreach by Geology Students

Abstract

A program for community outreach and service learning was designed to link the geoscience resources (materials and student expertise) of an undergraduate paleontology course with the need for engaging science activities at a local elementary school. The outreach activity consisted of providing a 30 to 40 minute enrichment program titled “Fossils of New York” to six elementary-school classes (totaling 125 to 150 children) with the resources of one mid-level geology class (20 to 30 students) during a single laboratory period. To maximize the educational benefits via service learning of the participating undergraduate geology students, program content was tightly integrated with course content. To maximize the educational benefits to the school children, all sessions involved hands-on experience with fossil specimens and collecting equipment in a small-group setting. The program can serve as a model for community outreach/service learning as a relevant course component for other mid-level geoscience courses.