More Fun with Geology Students

This morning the Geology 102 Lab classes were reviewing for their final test, which involves reading maps and naming features from aerial photographs.  I honestly cannot emphasize enough how easy this class is, and this test in particular.  That said, it's mind-boggling to see how much difficulty the people who will teach our kids someday have with this class. As a followup to a previous post, I'd like to share a couple funny (to me) things that were said while reviewing.

The best was when they were asked to identify a braided stream:

The reason it's called braided is because it (somewhat) resembles a braid in someone's hair.  They did what they always do:  call out every term in their notes until they got the right one by process of elimination.  When that didn't work this time, we gave them the hint "It's something you do with your hair." Immediately guesses started flying:  "Blow dry?" "Curl?" "Shampoo?" "Perm?" "Brush?" and a dozen others.  If someone puts "Blow-dried Stream" on the test, I'm tempted to give them half credit (not that it'll help them, the average score is about 50%).

A runner-up moment happened as we reviewed Kettle Lakes, which are lakes formed as glaciers retreat (I don't know where the name comes from). Once again, no one could think of the term, so they were given the hint "it's named for something your grandmother puts on the stove to boil water." Naturally, they guessed "teapot lake."  (As a side note, it is always difficult to convince these people that a retreating glacier does not flow uphill, merely melts faster than it flows!)

Since the class I TA is so small, I sit right with the students.  This is fortunate, since as we reviewed caves and were talking about sinkholes, I turned my head and watched a girl make a note of "sea coals."  She'd been to every class, but as with most of the students it was as if the first time they'd heard any of the terms was in the review.

There were more, but not as funny as these; and besides, you, my vast audience of readers, probably doesn't find this nearly as funny as I do. Anyway, after class ended, all the students were more interested in finding out what score they need on this test to pass the class (not get a good grade, just pass) than in actually putting forth effort to study.  I remember doing that in high school.  People should be beyond that in college, especially if their plans are to teach elementary school someday.

If you made it through that, here's a little bonus:  A minor victory for Wal-Mart and a recommendation.  Kate and I love cinnamon rolls, but are usually too lazy to make them homemade, so we always get the Great Value brand that come in the little cardboard tube.  Last time we were there, they were out, so we decided to spend a little extra for the good stuff, and bought Pillsbury.  Maybe I'm just used to the Wal-Mart brand, but after just a couple bites Kate and I both agreed that while the Pillsbury rolls are good, the Great Value ones are better by quite a lot.  Plus, they're significantly cheaper (but I didn't write down the prices, sorry), and the icing comes in a squeeze pouch, which is much easier than the Pillsbury icing, which requires a knife. To sum up:

Great Value cinnamon rolls > Pillsbury cinnamon rolls.  Ha!