“My approach to teaching is intended to provide students with a broadly balanced treatment of basic geologic concepts and definitions with practical applications from both laboratory and field settings. Topics are presented in a manner that intertwines fundamental principles with applications and examples. One critical aspect is to encourage the development of the ability to conduct geometric descriptions and basic descriptions of the problem, or the strain, which provides the what and then couple this with the kinematic aspects of geology and the dynamics or stress conditions that correspond with the strain record (e.g. the how and why). There are two different sets of goals that I want to impart. The first set is a mastery of the basic concepts found in geology. The second set is to have a student to be able to take the basic knowledge and apply it to a new setting. This would involve evaluating the geologic setting, setting up testable hypotheses, laying out a series of data gathering steps, and then finally drawing conclusions regarding your initial questions. A major component of this teaching has been my involvement with the field teaching program in Montana. This has included Field Geology in the Northern Rocky Mountains (X429) and Field Geology in the Northern Rocky Mountains with Environmental Geoscience Applications (X498e). I have been at the center of the development of the environmental portions of the programs offered out of the IU Geologic Field Station.”
The College of Arts