VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS ON MODERN COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS FOR SEDIMENTARY GEOLOGY AND INTRODUCTORY PHYSICAL GEOLOGY COURSES

Field trips provide essential opportunities for geology students to apply the knowledge they have learned in the classroom to understand and solve real-world problems, and to learn new knowledge in the field. Unfortunately field trips are typically limited to small classes and students’ ability to travel. With rapidly improving computer-based visualization and communication technology, field trips may be brought into the classroom virtually. This NSF-funded collaborative project developed, implemented, and assessed a series of virtual field trips for teaching an upper level undergraduate Sedimentary Geology at the University of South Florida (USF) and Introductory Physical Geology at the Hillsborough Community College (HCC). This digital presentation illustrates the virtual field trips developed for both the upper and introductory levels courses. The complete virtual field trips are available at: http://hennarot.forest.usf.edu/main/test/vcft/asg/.

Coastal Florida offers a unique setting for learning about a variety of modern depositional environments. The upper level virtual field trip is based on a 4-day actual field trip for GLY4554 offered at USF. The virtual field trips attempt to capture the essence of actual field trips with similar learning goals, exercises, and assignments. A total of five virtual field trips, including field method, high energy and low energy barrier island systems, modern carbonate environment, and sea-level record were developed. Its effects are being compared with those of the actual field trip. The introductory level virtual field trip is modified based on the 4-day trip to fit the learning objectives of the physical geology course. Four virtual field trips including field methods, east and west Florida coasts, and Florida Keys were developed. The evaluation of project activities and assessment of educational impact for virtual field trips at both levels is presented in an accompanying poster.