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A B

C

Figure 2. (A) Each cohort of ten students and two instruc-
tors was divided into two vans for transport to and from
field areas; (B) temperature checks were recorded prior
to loading the vans; and (C) upon arrival in the field, vans
were unloaded from front to back and then sanitized as
part of a multi-point COVID-19 safety program.

seat each day, and vans were loaded from meals to mitigate the risk of a potential out- mapping topic that is critical to the devel-
back to front and unloaded from front to break. Dining took place at Surbeck Center opment of a well-rounded and successful
back. Upon reaching the field and home in the main cafeteria. Upon entry and wear- field geologist; (ii) to introduce digital
destinations, disinfectant spray was used on ing a face mask, members of the field camp mapping methods, including the use of
all handled interior and exterior vehicle sur- were to stay spaced 6-feet (2 m) apart while freely accessible high-resolution imagery
faces. Furthermore, windows were kept a member of the dining team served them and 3-D visualization such as Google Earth
open and air conditioning could be set to their meal. Blue-tape Xs were placed on the to aid in the field mapping process; and (iii)
high, but not to max because that would floor to remind students to keep the space to teach observational skills and first prin-
recirculate air. of social distancing. Self-service was mini- ciples in sedimentary basin analysis (i.e.,
mal. The dining room tables were spaced what are the lithofacies, and how are differ-
Accommodations far apart and only one person was allowed ent sedimentary structures throughout tur-
Field-camp leaders worked closely with per table to facilitate social distancing. bidite beds used to determine paleocurrent
SDSMT campus authorities to accommo- Furthermore, laminated cards with “clean” direction, or what are the types of frac-
date students in single-occupancy dorm and “dirty” sides were used to show which tures, faults, and folds used to indicate a
rooms to mitigate the risk of a potential out- tables had been cleaned and were ready to certain type of deformation?). Probably the
break. Each 10-student cohort was placed accommodate a diner, and following a most popular feedback from students was
on a separate floor in Connolly Hall resi- meal, the card was to be flipped over, the enjoyment of using Google Earth to
dential dormitory. Three instructors and 10 revealing to the dining team that the table provide big-picture interpretations of struc-
students lived off campus, so only four needed to be cleaned prior to accommodat- ture. Second, students were challenged to
instructors and 20 students lived on campus ing the next diner. learn about a new basin or a completely
for the duration of the field camp. On cam- new concept each day. This can take some
pus, all members of the field camp were INTERPRETATION AND REVIEW OF focus and is akin to the block program
required to socially distance and wear face THE HYBRID COURSE featured at some universities in the U.S.,
coverings. While it was impractical to mon- Students, instructors, and key stakehold- including Colorado College. Finally, stu-
itor students’ after-hours activities, students ers of the South Dakota state university dents enjoyed the fact that each day was a
were encouraged not to go off campus because system provided important feedback (both new topic, so that they remained rather
of the risk of being introduced to COVID-19 anonymous and not) on the merits, limita- fresh and engaged throughout the course.
at bars and other areas where social gather- tions, and attributes of this course. First, Some of the key limitations included: (i)
ings are common. the introduction to field mapping methods exercises were demanding and took signifi-
online served three important purposes: cant time, with some students turning in
Dining (i) to provide distinct exercises, most of homework after the midnight deadline; (ii)
Field-camp leaders worked closely with them in different sedimentary basins from the material was completely new and took
SDSMT campus authorities to provide safe around the world and each on a different focus to learn new lexicons of geologic

8 GSA Today | March-April 2021