HELPING STUDENTS VISUALIZE FOSSILS USING AN INTERACTIVE, BROWSER-DRIVEN FOSSIL DATABASE: DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION IN THE HISTORICAL GEOLOGY LABORATORY

The goal of this project was to develop, implement and asses the effectiveness of an interactive database of fossils. Dreamweaver^TM along with Fireworks ^TM was utilized to organize and store information and photographs. This picture driven, web-based interface is easy to use and will help students learn fossil identification skills. Students first select a fossil from the collection, and observe it carefully. They then use a computer attached to a Smartboard^TM to begin the program by answering basic questions and touching the screen. The interactive program takes them through a progression of fossil identification techniques that will help them identify their fossil conclusively.

Based on feedback from faculty who instruct historical geology laboratory courses, we targeted six groups that students find difficult to identify: corals, bryozoans, brachiopods, bivalves, cephalopods, and gastropods. The database was piloted in the introductory-level historical geology laboratory, and was used by the students during a semester-long lab project. Previously, students used books or photocopied images to assist in fossil identification. This software serves two purposes: (1) It makes the identification process simpler by providing students with high-quality color images of fossils. (2) It helps students improve their observational skills by using technology to “walk” through observations necessary to identify fossils.

A questionnaire was given to a class prior to implementation of this Interactive Fossil Identification program and the same questionnaire was given to students that used this program. Students report a higher level of comfort with identifying the six fossil groups included in the program. The results are very encouraging to us and the program can be expanded to include more fossil groups.