Transforming Geoscience Education with Remote Electron Microscopy

Expanding the use of online remote electron microscopy to enhance undergraduate geoscience education at Valencia College through a project focused on evaluating sands remotely using an operated scanning electron microscope. Students collect and analyze various sands using different tools and techniques, such as reflective scopes, EDS analysis, and SEM to study aspects like depositional environments, weathering, and climate. The project aims to provide a transformative learning experience for students in the field of geology.

• Geoscience Education
• Remote Electron Microscopy
• Scanning Electron Microscope
• Sands Evaluation
• Transformative Learning

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1. Evaluating Sands using Remotely Evaluating Sands using Remotely- - Operated Scanning Electron Microscope Operated Scanning Electron Microscope Mary Beck (Valencia College, Orlando FL, mbeck2@valenciacollege.edu) Christopher Vidito (Florida Center for Analytical Electron Microscopy, Florida International University, Miami FL, cvidito@fiu.edu) Jeffrey Ryan (University of South Florida, Tampa FL, ryan@mail.usf.edu) Rosemary Hickey-Vargas (Florida International University, Miami FL, hickey@fiu.edu) James MacDonald (Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers FL, jmcdonal@fgcu.edu) MSI-REaCH

2. NSF TUES 2 Project: Expanding the Use of Online Remote Electron Microscopy in the Classroom to Transform Undergraduate Geoscience Education Valencia College Project: 2-year college Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Non-majors, non-lab introductory earth science class Class enrollment cap of 24 students Meets 1x/week for 2.75 hours Focus on sands

3. Week 1: Students collected campus sands. (http://gigapan.com/gigapans/200382) Valencia College sand: hand lens and reflective scope Weeks 5 & 6 (rocks/minerals and weathering) 15 sands: reflective scope and EDS/provenance Weeks 7 & 8 (geologic time and mass movement) 15 sands: SEM/depositional environment Weeks 12 & 13 (weather and climate) ODP samples: SEM/ice-rafting mechanism Week 14 (climate) Valencia College sand: SEM/depositional environment

4. Weeks 5 and 6 Students look at sands under reflective scopes. Links to Gigapan macro images of sands: VC-1: http://gigapan.com/gigapans/200363 VC-2: http://gigapan.com/gigapans/200390 VC-3: http://gigapan.com/gigapans/200418 VC-4: http://gigapan.com/gigapans/ae890465f5 c20ee9844d43a00fff73b2 VC-5: http://gigapan.com/gigapans/200480 VC-7: http://gigapan.com/gigapans/200506 VC-8: http://gigapan.com/gigapans/200360 VC-9: http://gigapan.com/gigapans/200362 VC-10: http://gigapan.com/gigapans/200538 VC-11: http://gigapan.com/gigapans/200504 VC-12: http://gigapan.com/gigapans/200496 VC-13: http://gigapan.com/gigapans/200386 Sands and Sediments Questions, Part 1 VC-14: http://gigapan.com/gigapans/200416 VC-15: http://gigapan.com/gigapans/200415 Students answer questions on 15 sands.

5. Mineral Kit Rock Kit

6. Weeks 5 and 6: Analyze composition using EDS. Spectrum image: Chris Vidito, FCAEM EDS Report Students report on EDS work.

7. Weeks 7 and 8: Students use Vos et al., 2014 and quartz sand texture descriptors to determine likely environment of sand deposition. Vos Quartz Sand Surface Textures Tally Students report on SEM work. Sands and Sediments Questions, Part 2 Students report investigation results.

8. Weeks 12 and 13: Students use SEM and quartz texture micro images (St. John, et al., 2015) to distinguish between IRD (iceberg-rafted debris) and SIRD (sea ice-rafted debris). ODP Quartz Grain Microfeatures Tally Sheet and Histograms

9. Week 14: Revisit Valencia College Sand.

10. Acknowledgements Kristen St. John and MSI REaCH (Reconstructing Earth s Climate History) Robin Rohrback at Northern Virginia Community College References St. John, K., Passchier, S., Tantillo, B., Darby, D., and Kearns, L., 2015, Microfeatures of modern sea-ice-rafted sediment and implications for paleo-sea-ice reconstructions. Annals of Glaciology, v. 56, no. 69, p. 83-93. https://www.igsoc.org/annals/56/69/a69a586_rgb.pdf Vos, K., Vandenberghe, N., and Elsena, J., 2014, Surface textural analysis of quartz grains by scanning electron microscopy (SEM): From sample preparation to environmental interpretation. Earth-Science Reviews, v. 128, p. 93 104. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259086698_Surface_textural_analysis_of_quar tz_grains_by_scanning_electron_microscopy_SEM_From_sample_preparation_to_environ mental_interpretation