VIRTUAL GEOLOGY FIELD TRIPS: BRINGING THE STORY OF ROCK OUTCROPS TO TODAY'S CLASSROOM

Have you ever wanted to take your students into the field but couldn’t because the nearest outcrop was hours away or time and funds were lacking? This free website (https://GeologyVirtualTrips.com) was created to bring geologic field localities to your classroom, illustrating both large-scale rock formations as well as smaller-scale geologic structures. Due in part to changes brought about by funding challenges and the pandemic, this website is already being used to supplement the Geology Curricula of several High School Dual Enrollment programs and universities.

In addition to numerous photographs and accompanying descriptions, students are provided with a condensed geologic history of the field locality as well as Student Questions pertaining to each Field Trip Stop. Some questions can be answered from the provided content while others require outside research. A comprehensive Index is provided and an Answer Guide to the over 325 questions is available to instructors.

To offer an upgraded alternative to current online options, this author decided to use personally taken photos of nearly 60 field localities visited in the past. Each site contains descriptive text simulating an actual trip to the outcrops which are now brought into the classroom. The user-friendly descriptions, high quality photography and expanded locations give students the experience of “being there.”

All rock types, igneous (plutonic and extrusive), metamorphic (regional and contact), and sedimentary (detrital and chemical) are thoroughly illustrated along with large-scale structures (folds, faults, glacial processes, etc.) and smaller-scale structures (cross-beds, slickensides, ripples, mudcracks, etc.). Tectonic settings including ancient sedimentary environments are noted where appropriate. Locations include nearly 30 National Parks and Monuments of the Western U.S. and Canada including the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Glacier, Zion, Arches, Mt. St. Helens, Hawaii and Banff, as well as NYC and surrounding counties, and the Texas Hill Country. More locations are added yearly.

This unique website provides an extension of learning to classroom work increasing student interest and motivation. It provides the user with the opportunity for self-paced learning and provides an interactive experience that brings Geology to life.