USING DIGITAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN GEOSCIENCE FIELD COURSES

2007 GSA Denver Annual Meeting (28–31 October 2007)
Paper No. 233-10

Presentation Time: 3:45 PM-4:00 PM

USING DIGITAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN GEOSCIENCE FIELD COURSES
KNOOP, Peter, School of Information, Univ of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, knoop@umich.edu, MOGK, David, Earth Sciences, Montana State University, 200 Traphagen Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717, CROSBY, Benjamin, Dept. of Geological Sciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, HELPER, Mark, Geological Sciences, Univ of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, MANONE, Mark, Department of Geology, Northern Arizona Univ, Box 4099, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, NIEMI, Nathan, Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, SNYDER, Jeff, Dept. of Geology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403, VAN DER PLUIJM, Ben, Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Rm 2534, C. C. Little Bldg, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, WAWRZYNIEC, Tim, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Univ of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, and WALKER, J. Douglas, Dept. of Geology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045 Geological instruction in the field is benefiting greatly through the use digital technologies such as ruggedized laptop and palmtop computers (collectively coined "GeoPads") with integrated GPS, GIS, data management, digital imagery, and note taking software. These combined capabilities provide a fundamentally new way to map and collect other data in the field. In the future, use of this technology will become the standard for research, industrial and educational applications. Consequently, this is now the time to help faculty and students make the transition to using these exciting new technologies in field camps and related field-instructional programs. The Teaching with GeoPads writing team was convened in February 2007 to develop a series of web-based resources to help teachers and students effectively and effeciently use GeoPads in field-based instructional and research activities. The goal of this project is to minimize the technical, pedagogical, and practical barriers that make it difficult for novice users to use this technology in field instruction. This site provides practical advice on selecting software and hardware, accessing and formatting data, and designing and implementing instructional activities. In addition, "best instructional practices" in using GeoPads are described, including learning goals, expected outcomes, and assessment strategies. Web authoring was done via the content management system at the Science Education Resource Center, Carleton College (http://serc.carleton.edu ). The scientific and pedagogic content of all webpages was internally reviewed by members of the writing team and a quality assurance review was done to make sure that all webpages conformed to best practices in web design. The model of convening small working groups to create enduring web-based resources can be applied to other areas of interest to develop coherent and comprehensive instructional resources in the geosciences. The Teaching with GeoPads instructional resources can be found at: http://serc.carleton.edu/research_education/geopad/index.html. This project was funded by NSF grant EAR 03-06708.
2007 GSA Denver Annual Meeting (28–31 October 2007) General Information for this Meeting

Session No. 233 The Future of Geoscience Field Courses II Colorado Convention Center: 404 1:30 PM-5:30 PM, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 39, No. 6, p. 622
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