Page 63 - Teaching Innovation for the 21st Century

Here, we share the initiatives we implemented to enrich the Applied Engineering and Environmental Geology (APG2B) module curriculum so that it helps our graduates to become future-fit Applied Geologists. APG2B is an elective semester module offered at the second-year level with the focus on the engineering and environmental issues each allocated a term. The module is intended to show how Geology assists in identifying and/or solving engineering and environmental problems in which geological factors play a role. Such problems are not abstract; we experience them in our daily lives, an example of an engineering geological problem
or hazard being the development of sinkholes within and around the Gauteng Province, South Africa (Mafolo 2022).
For the most part, these develop where dolomite rock is present. Upon weathering, this rock develops underground cavities due to its solubility. Although unfortunate,
such occurrences provide unique teaching and learning opportunities using the place-based education model. Within this context, it is evident that theory alone is not sufficient for ensuring that a graduate would be able to identify and mitigate against potential engineering and environmental geological hazards; this can only come from working on rock exposures and authentic (real-world) case studies.
Within this context, it is evident that theory alone is not sufficient for ensuring that a graduate would be able to identify and mitigate against potential engineering and environmental geological hazards; this can only come from working on
rock exposures and authentic (real- world) case studies.
Teaching Innovation for the 21st Century | Showcasing UJ Teaching and Learning 2021
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