OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IN INTEGRATING STATE-OF-THE-ART MULTIMEDIA INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY WITH TRADITIONAL TEXT-BASED TEACHING/LEARNING MODULES: A CASE STUDY FROM THE SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK, VIRGINIA

National Parks offer an unsurpassed natural learning laboratory for the earth sciences, one that is pristine, easily accessible and safe for students and teachers. Over the years an increasing number of partnerships between university-level educators and Park Service personnel have resulted in creation of several high-quality teaching/learning modules. These products have been driven by proven learning theories and integrate ‘Learning Standards' to help K-12 teachers meet State-mandated and ‘measurable' teaching outcomes. University-level, Earth Science/Geology departments often have educators experimenting with both - the latest advancements in the ‘methods' of learning and with software-hardware products for bringing new instructional technology modules into K-12 classrooms. Collaboration between university and our public land agencies thus represents a natural synergy of talents with the common goal of enhancing learning in the outdoors. While such partnerships offer promise, care must be taken to understand limitations that are unique to each party. Effective cognizance of organizational infrastructure, protocols for partnerships, funding scenarios and shared copyright issues, can significantly enhance (or undermine) such collaborative ventures. This paper discusses each of the aforementioned factors as they have related to the successful design and development of an interactive, multimedia CD-ROM, recently published by the Division of Interpretation and Education of the Shenandoah National Park through a joint venture with Radford University and James Madison University in Virginia. A demonstration of both the teacher/student workbook for conducting experiments in the Park and the accompanying CD-ROM, will be presented. Ideas for cultivating similar partnerships, specifically with Bryce Canyon National Park, will also be discussed. Further, information for obtaining copies of the Shenandoah National Park Project Workbook and CD-ROM will be disseminated.