Courses Taught:
- Electron Microprobe Analysis (ERTH 621), Starting Fall 2023 (every fall semester).
- Introduction to Earth Science (ESC1000), Spring 2022.
- Principles of Mineralogy (GLY 3200 C), Fall 2019, 2020, 2021.
- Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (GLY 4310C), Spring 2020, 2021.
Mineralogy Field Trip to Georgia and North Carolina:
In Fall 2021, we organized a mineralogy field trip to Georgia and North Carolina, to observe granite dome in the Stone Mountain, metamorphic rocks (schist, gneiss, granulite, migmatite, etc.) in the Woodall Shoals and Winding Stair Gap, and some tourmaline-rich pegmatite in Ray Mine at the Appalachian Ranger District. This trip allowed students to have more in-depth and intuitive understanding of the minerals and their occurrences in various types of rocks. Students got a chance to see and identify quartz, plagioclase, K-feldspar (amazonite), hornblende, muscovite, garnet, tourmaline, epidote, beryl, magnetite, sphalerite, galena, etc. in the field. They really showed great enthusiasm and passion in the field and actively explored around the sites to seek new rocks and minerals.
During this field trip, I was one of the van drivers, and helped organize the group, illustrate some geologic phenomena, and instruct students to correctly identify one mineral from another.
During this field trip, I was one of the van drivers, and helped organize the group, illustrate some geologic phenomena, and instruct students to correctly identify one mineral from another.
2021.11 Mineralogy Field Trip @ Stone Mountain (Georgia). Photo credit: Daniel Goch.
|
Teaching during Pandemic (COVID) [Spring 2020 ~ Fall 2021]:
Teaching during pandemic (since Spring 2020) has been a great challenge for in-person Mineralogy and Petrology labs. But this has also offered me a unique chance to seek resources, tools, and approaches that can be applied to revise / update lab contents and format, and to establish lab "new patterns" that can best suit the "new normal" for Pandemic teaching.
The first challenge was to revise a one-week lab to a lab that can be completed in 2 hours during lab periods (because students did not have after-hours access to the building). To do so, we TAs need to prepare a short BUT comprehensive lab that covers the most important points in a simpler way while still retaining appropriate complexity. This has been a challenge, but doing so has allowed me to have more in-depth understanding of the course and lab materials. Due to the concern of spread of COVID, I also tried to prepare more duplicates of hand samples and thin sections to reduce the "share" of lab materials. This took me extra time on lab preparation, but has also been a great practice for me. I got faster and faster in identifying a hand sample and thin section, which ensured me to quickly pick one rock or slide from tons of hand samples and thin sections for new lab assignments.
The pandemic also pushed our TAs to prepare online or hybrid labs, which fostered lots of communications and resource sharings among global educators. The outbreak of COVID-19 in USA during Spring 2020 forced all in-person labs to transit online. It was really a short notice, but I finally made several online labs from scratch by applying and combining virtual microscopes, Sketchfab 3D models, literature reading and some SERC (Science Education Resource Center) online activities. In Fall 2020 and the following semesters, while other courses still operated online labs, the Petrology and Mineralogy labs were assigned as in-person (due to specific lab needs). The experience gained in online teaching was used in the in-person labs, where I sometimes made an in-person lab as a hybrid one. Students actually enjoyed these combinations and variety and learned a lot through the semesters!
I love and enjoy teaching! I also treasure the valuable four semesters' teaching experiences during the pandemic. The only hope for now is that this pandemic can end soon so all things can come back to normal...
The first challenge was to revise a one-week lab to a lab that can be completed in 2 hours during lab periods (because students did not have after-hours access to the building). To do so, we TAs need to prepare a short BUT comprehensive lab that covers the most important points in a simpler way while still retaining appropriate complexity. This has been a challenge, but doing so has allowed me to have more in-depth understanding of the course and lab materials. Due to the concern of spread of COVID, I also tried to prepare more duplicates of hand samples and thin sections to reduce the "share" of lab materials. This took me extra time on lab preparation, but has also been a great practice for me. I got faster and faster in identifying a hand sample and thin section, which ensured me to quickly pick one rock or slide from tons of hand samples and thin sections for new lab assignments.
The pandemic also pushed our TAs to prepare online or hybrid labs, which fostered lots of communications and resource sharings among global educators. The outbreak of COVID-19 in USA during Spring 2020 forced all in-person labs to transit online. It was really a short notice, but I finally made several online labs from scratch by applying and combining virtual microscopes, Sketchfab 3D models, literature reading and some SERC (Science Education Resource Center) online activities. In Fall 2020 and the following semesters, while other courses still operated online labs, the Petrology and Mineralogy labs were assigned as in-person (due to specific lab needs). The experience gained in online teaching was used in the in-person labs, where I sometimes made an in-person lab as a hybrid one. Students actually enjoyed these combinations and variety and learned a lot through the semesters!
I love and enjoy teaching! I also treasure the valuable four semesters' teaching experiences during the pandemic. The only hope for now is that this pandemic can end soon so all things can come back to normal...
Teaching Awards & Students' Feedback:
- I was awarded the "Ernst Award" by the Department of Geological Sciences for outstanding achievement as a Teaching Assistant.
Some feedback from students (on Gator Evaluations):
"Peng is very enthusiastic about the material, which made me much more eager to learn. Also, Peng provides very helpful feedback on the lab assignments." (Fall 2021, Principles of Mineralogy, GLY 3200C)
"During labs Peng was incredibly helpful when I had multiple questions during the period, and even if I reached out to him through email, he responded quickly and helpful." (Fall 2020, Principles of Mineralogy, GLY 3200C)
"Peng was the best lab TA I've had since I've been at UF. He was attentive and helpful during lab session and clearly dedicated to what he was teaching us." (Fall 2020, Principles of Mineralogy, GLY3200C)
"The instructor has a very good understanding of Mineralogy and is quite good at explaining subjects and material." (Fall 2020, Principles of Mineralogy, GLY3200C)
"Peng was very knowledgeable about the subject, and you can tell that he is dedicated to the subject. He put a lot of time into his lectures and was always able and willing to help students." (Spring 2020, Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, GLY4310C)
"Extremely knowledgeable and helpful in terms of explaining content and available for questions. Your power points were very well put together and conveyed important information as well!" (Spring 2020, Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, GLY4310C)
"Very enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable about Petrology. Can be a very helpful guide 1 on 1." (Spring 2020, Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, GLY4310C)
Public Outreaches:
- "Can you Dig It?", an annual public education event at Florida Museum. I illustrated K-12 students with AR (Augmented Reality) sandbox, showing Florida topography and sea level change through time, and having them build their own mountains, valleys, plains, volcanoes, rivers, lakes, oceans, etc.
- "Earth Science Public Education" event for K-12 students at Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. I was invited to provide a guide and presentation about various minerals, rocks, and geologic processes.
"Can You Dig It" annual event, with AR sandbox illustration (2019.03).
@ Florida Museum of Natural History (University of Florida) |
"Earth Science Public Education" event (2016.09).
@ Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Photo credit: Yingjie Gao. |
Cover photo: Synthetic zircons and hafnons with perfectly preserved tetragonal crystal shape. Mineral synthesis by me and several other colleagues at UF. @2019.05