CONVEYING GEOLOGY FROM MUSEUM CURATORSHIP BACKGROUND USING ARCGIS STORYMAPS

The importance of hands-on activities for science education has been well established. Additionally, education outside of a formal setting is highly beneficial for the teaching of scientific concepts. The open storage specimen cabinets within the Learning Lab at the Indiana Geological and Water Survey have created unique opportunities for visitors to learn about geoscience through discovery, questioning, observation, and exploration. We created activities that enable families, K-12 students, teachers, and adults to handle and inspect geological specimens and encourage personal learning connections. However, these hands-on opportunities are largely limited to people in our facility's tri-county geographic region. Can similar opportunities be created for those who cannot visit these spaces in person? By combining museum best practices and science education pedagogy, we can create effective web-based education opportunities available virtually to reach a wider array of the public. We used the ArcGIS StoryMap web application to mirror in-person activities in a virtual exhibit. Our exhibit explores our geological collection from a broad perspective, down to individual specimens. This approach allows users to see into the collection, learn through specimens, and explore geoscience questions from afar while receiving an experience similar to an in-person visit. We will discuss how the use of museum practices can benefit geoscience education, examine how we can offer similar experiences to in-person and virtual users, and explain the educational opportunities provided by our non-traditional spaces.