5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
[G04-P04] Proposal of a Model for Student-led Outreach Events: Insights from Fieldwork-based Events for Elementary, Junior High, and High School Students in Yamaguchi Prefecture
Keywords:outreach, geo science education, student-centered, Yamaguchi
This paper presents a comprehensive report on the planning, execution, and outcomes of Yamadai Students' Geoscience Exploration Class, a fieldwork-based educational event held in August 2024 for middle and high school students.
The event was organized and led by four third-year undergraduate students (now fourth-year students) from the Department of Earth System Science at Yamaguchi University. In response to the declining opportunities for students to engage with geoscience prior to higher education, the event aimed to provide hands-on fieldwork experiences by visiting prominent geosites in Yamaguchi Prefecture during the summer break.
Participants visited two renowned geological sites in Hagi City: Tatamiga-buchi and Susa Hornfels. At Tatamiga-buchi, they observed columnar joints formed during the activity of Mount Irao, part of the Abu Volcano Group, and engaged in fundamental geoscience fieldwork, including sketching and outcrop descriptions. At Susa Hornfels, they constructed stratigraphic columns based on its distinctive alternating sandstone and mudstone layers, gaining practical experience in geological mapping techniques.
This paper also details the student-led event management process. The organizers were responsible for securing funding for expenses such as flyer production, printed materials, and transportation. To cover these costs, they successfully obtained sponsorships from four geotechnical consulting firms in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Additionally, with the support of the Yamaguchi City Board of Education, flyers were distributed to public middle and high schools to promote the event. As a result, the event attracted 16 participants out of a maximum capacity of 20.
Beyond reporting on this outreach activity, this paper aims to present a replicable model for university geoscience students to independently design and implement educational events, thereby contributing to the advancement of geoscience education.
The event was organized and led by four third-year undergraduate students (now fourth-year students) from the Department of Earth System Science at Yamaguchi University. In response to the declining opportunities for students to engage with geoscience prior to higher education, the event aimed to provide hands-on fieldwork experiences by visiting prominent geosites in Yamaguchi Prefecture during the summer break.
Participants visited two renowned geological sites in Hagi City: Tatamiga-buchi and Susa Hornfels. At Tatamiga-buchi, they observed columnar joints formed during the activity of Mount Irao, part of the Abu Volcano Group, and engaged in fundamental geoscience fieldwork, including sketching and outcrop descriptions. At Susa Hornfels, they constructed stratigraphic columns based on its distinctive alternating sandstone and mudstone layers, gaining practical experience in geological mapping techniques.
This paper also details the student-led event management process. The organizers were responsible for securing funding for expenses such as flyer production, printed materials, and transportation. To cover these costs, they successfully obtained sponsorships from four geotechnical consulting firms in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Additionally, with the support of the Yamaguchi City Board of Education, flyers were distributed to public middle and high schools to promote the event. As a result, the event attracted 16 participants out of a maximum capacity of 20.
Beyond reporting on this outreach activity, this paper aims to present a replicable model for university geoscience students to independently design and implement educational events, thereby contributing to the advancement of geoscience education.