FOSSILSKETCH - AN INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE THAT IMPROVES STUDENT ABILITY TO LEARN MICROFOSSIL IDENTIFICATION INDEPENDENTLY

Micropaleontology is the study of fossils that are typically a millimeter or less in size. These microfossils are preserved in sediments deposited in ocean basins and lakes and are important for determining the ages of geologic records, reconstructing ancient environments, and monitoring modern ecosystem health. However, training undergraduates to identify microfossils is time-intensive and most students are not exposed to micropaleontology in their courses. To enable non-experts to integrate microfossil identification training in their undergraduate courses, we developed FossilSketch, an interactive web-based educational tool that introduces students to the basics of micropaleontology and guides them through a scaffolded learning experience to develop their microfossil identification skills. FossilSketch includes several modules on Foraminifera and Ostracoda, and was based on an existing specimen-based laboratory curriculum and real micropaleontological datasets that allow inquiry-based activities. In the FossilSketch-based implementation of the curriculum, students watch educational videos, practice recognizing morphological features through minigames, and then combine their skills to identify common genera from high resolution photomicrographs. After learning to identify microfossils, students apply this knowledge to multispecies assemblages and make interpretations about the environment the assemblage represents. Analysis of classroom assessments showed that junior and senior geology majors who used FossilSketch were better able to understand the process of microfossil identification, recognize morphological characteristics, and achieve a correct identification than those that did not use FossilSketch. Students who used FossilSketch were also more motivated to complete the assignments, needed to ask the teaching assistant fewer questions, and felt better prepared for specimen-based work than students who did not use FossilSketch. FossilSketch allows students to learn microfossil identification without instructor supervision, enables non-expert instructors to integrate these skills in their courses, and frees time for students to collect and analyze their data during the laboratory session.