Start |Author Index | View Uploaded Presentations | Meeting Information

2007 GSA Denver Annual Meeting (28–31 October 2007)

Paper No. 10
Presentation Time: 3:45 PM

USING DIGITAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN GEOSCIENCE FIELD COURSES


KNOOP, Peter, Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, MOGK, David, Earth Sciences, Montana State University, 200 Traphagen Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717, CROSBY, Benjamin T., 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, Earth and Environmental 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, Timothy F., Department of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Western State Colorado University, 31C Hurst Hall, Gunnison, CO 81231 and WALKER, J. Douglas, Dept. of Geology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, knoop@umich.edu

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.

Session No. 233

T139. The Future of Geoscience Field Courses II
Wednesday, 31 October 2007: 1:30 PM-5:30 PM
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 39, No. 6, p.622
© Copyright 2007 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.
Back to: T139. The Future of Geoscience Field Courses II
<< Previous Abstract | Next Abstract >>