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Using Synthetic Data and Artificial Wells to Teach the Construction and Use of Water Level Contour Maps

Contour maps that depict groundwater levels (e.g., water table maps and potentiometric surface maps) are essential to the practice of hydrogeology. However, there are significant barriers to effectively teaching students how to create and interpret such maps. Barriers to instruction include the logistics of accessing real wells, assuring that students are provided with a challenging problem, and the lack of a unique solution. We present a new approach that overcomes these barriers through the use of artificial wells and synthetic data. Our approach provides students with a challenging problem that takes them through the whole process, from data collection to interpretation of the resulting maps. In the end, students are able to see how their efforts compare to a known solution, rather than another estimate. Students are also able to choose locations for additional wells that they believe will enhance their ability to create an accurate map. These qualities lead to a substantial improvement in student comprehension over instructional approaches that are based on existing data or limited field measurements.