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Paper No. 6
Presentation Time: 9:50 AM

FIELD PLAY: A GEOLOGIC MOBILE APPLICATION INCORPORATING AUGMENTED REALITY FIELD TRIPS AND LOCATION SENSITIVE EDUCATIONAL LESSONS FOR PERSONALIZED, MULTIFACETED, INTERACTIVE GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION


DONAHUE, Magdalena, Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, MSCO3-2040, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, DONAHUE, John, Computer Science & Engineering, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Department of Computer Science & Engineering, 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM 87801, KARLSTROM, Karl E., Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131 and CROSSEY, Laura J., Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, mmsd@unm.edu

Field Play is an augmented reality educational and experiential tool for the geosciences built to run on Android-based mobile devices. Free and easy to use, Field Play enriches learning on many levels by providing accessible, understandable, and “bite-sized” educational topics. Geoscientists, the general public, and K-12 to college level students can customize the breadth and depth of content to accommodate their interest and experience levels. The goal of the Field Play application is to promote scientific education in a way that is personal, interesting, relevant, and easily accessible.

The Field Play system is based around augmented reality geologic field trips that overlays educational data with the physical world. Based in high-interest locations such as National Parks (e.g., Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Crater Lake) and major local/regional geologic features (e.g., the Valles Caldera complex and Rio Grande rift), the virtual geologic field trips consist of routes with areas of active content. With the aid of the embedded GPS, users can explore their location relative to the predetermined route as well as geologic features, terrain and active content. When a user enters an area of active content, they are given the option to explore a number of interactive submodules, including augmented reality binoculars, informational text, topographic and geologic maps and short video (Youtube) lessons. The Field Play Youtube channel offers additional educational videos in 5-10 minute segments. Supplementing the augmented reality field trips, these educational videos incorporate interviews by topic experts, animations, photographs and video, allowing the user to expand their knowledge on related topics.

Educational field trips can also be accessed from home (or any other location) when not in an area of active content via the internet. The Field Play application can be accessed online, and virtual field trips can be selected and downloaded by the user to their computer or smartphone and hence may provide useful tools for both informal and formal geoscience education.

Session No. 209

T126. Geoscience Learning and Practice Enabled through Cyberinformatics and Technology I
Tuesday, 29 October 2013: 8:00 AM-12:00 PM
Room 404 (Colorado Convention Center)
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 45, No. 7, p.504
© Copyright 2013 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.
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