A SELF-GUIDED GEOLOGIC FIELD TRIP ON CAMPUS USING A CUSTOMIZED IPAD APP

Introductory geology courses often include field trips on or near campus to identify rocks and minerals. We are supplementing our current lab exercise (that uses hand specimens of rocks and minerals) by creating a custom iPad app that allows students to explore and identify the various building stones used on our campus. Designed as an independent, self-guided field exercise, it combines the functionality of the iPad with geologic information regarding the decorative stones and sculptures of rock found on our campus. The app directs students to the various locations, where they interact with the app to complete a number of tasks focused on identifying and understanding the manner in which various rocks were formed. Functionality of the iPad utilized includes the built-in GPS chip for determining location, the wifi connectivity to access our campus’ network, and the touchscreen to display and enter data. The data collected on the iPad is used to assess the students’ performance after completion of this field exercise.