BRINGING THE OUTSIDE INSIDE USING VIDEO-BASED VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS

Many undergraduate earth science programs use field trips to introduce students to local geologic sites, to develop hands-on observation and measurement skills, and to generate interest in advanced study. Logistical challenges (e.g. adequate transportation, trip funding, handicap access) and time constraints complicate and in some cases eliminate the use of field trips particularly for large introductory classes. Regrettably, this may prevent many prospective earth science majors from being exposed to the most interesting part of earth science, the field. New video-streaming and multimedia technologies provide an effective means for overcoming these challenges. Furthermore, by integrating video collected in the field with the results of subsequent laboratory and data analyses it is possible to more fully illustrate why fieldwork is so fundamental. We illustrate these points using portions of several video-based virtual field trips (VFTs) that examine the origins of glacial and karst landforms in Connecticut, Georgia, and Greenland. Preliminary student evaluations (n=29) overwhelmingly agree that VFTs are interesting (>95% of respondents), educational (>90%) and that the use of multimedia (audio, video, animations, stills) significantly improved the educational value of the VFTs (>90%). Initial comments by external academic reviewers (n=5) indicate that our VFTs are appropriate for advanced high school through undergraduate students. Both student and faculty evaluators agree that the VFTs, which at present play best on CD, would be improved if made available directly online.