‘2-MINUTE GEOLOGY’ VIDEOS: FIELD LESSONS FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES

We have many examples of classic geologic concepts in the state of Washington. Since 2007 through the Ice Age Flood Institute, I have been leading regular field trips and offering a complementary evening lecture series. Interest has been high and sustained; attendance averages 150 people per evening lecture and 70 people per Sunday field trip. But that’s a small subset of folks who enjoy geology - and only a few residents have the time, ability, or confidence to get into the field on their own. As a result, I’ve developed a new, freely available video series that serves a much larger audience around the world.

‘2 Minute Geology’ is a new series of short geology videos created by website designer Tom Foster and hosted/written by CWU geology lecturer Nick Zentner. The episodes (20 so far) take viewers out to the field – a virtual experience that describes geologic processes, simulates geologic inquiry, and emphasizes the visual nature of geology. The series is easy to film and edit, upload to YouTube, and is offered for free to a worldwide audience.

Online reaction to ‘2 Minute Geology’ has been abundant and positive in the six weeks since our debut. 400 subscribers to our YouTube channel, 600 ‘likes’ on our Facebook page, 100 followers on Twitter, and each episode averages 500 views per month. Feedback we’ve received indicates that viewers appreciate the short length, the fast pace, the stories from the field, the beauty of Washington – especially viewers outside of the US. A known audience confined to a lecture hall in Ellensburg, Washington has grown exponentially through the Internet. Future episodes will build off of viewer comments, teacher suggestions, and instructional needs worldwide!