PEBBLES TO PIXELS: VIRTUAL FIELD EXPERIENCES AND THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT BUILDS THEM

Transferring scientific principles to circumstances outside the classroom is a challenge to any curriculum, but engaging students in asking real questions about their communities and surrounding environment can lead to a much deeper connection to the sciences, especially Earth system science. In order to promote the merging of standard Earth system science concepts with local geologic history, the Paleontological Research Institution is producing the Teacher-Friendly Guides to the Geology of the US. The series of seven guides (available at teacherfriendlyguide.org/geo) will serve as a content resource for educators, complementing established curricula to provide a heightened understanding of local Earth system science. A further goal of the project is to assist educators with the development of Virtual Field Experiences, or VFEs. Using Google Earth and other platforms, VFEs are technology-based, inquiry-driven explorations that ask the question: Why does this place look the way it does? Current professional development is introducing the concept, theory, production, and practice of VFEs to K-16 and informal educators across the country. Attention at the workshops is dedicated to demonstrating best practices for visiting a field site, actual work in the field, and documenting the visited site as a VFE for the classroom. Beyond the workshop, work with educators continues via online conferencing, with the ultimate goal of having the educators produce a VFE based on a place near their school and relevant to their students. In addition to including geologic information, VFEs may also contain information related to ecology, archaeology, and other disciplines, providing a systems approach to place-based education. Completed VFEs are housed within an ever-expanding, free-access database at virtualfieldwork.org.