Immersive, place-based education exploring three glacial basins in Glacier National Park, Montana to enhance learning in geography, geoheritage and geodiversity.
Topics: Geography Education
, Education
, Mountain Environments
Keywords: Experiential learning, virtual reality, field trips, geoheritage, geodiversity
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Saturday
Session Start / End Time: 2/26/2022 03:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/26/2022 05:00 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 61
Authors:
Dianna Gielstra, Prescott College
Lynn M. Resler, Virginia Tech
David R. Butler, Texas State University System Regents' Professor of Geography Emeritus
Niccole V. Cerveny, Mesa Community College
Lynn Moorman, Mount Royal University
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Abstract
Field-based experiences may be limited for the K-16 classroom during the on-going pandemic when health protocols limit movement and gathering. Moreover, when protocols are lifted, sites of interest to educators that highlight earth system science topics may be inaccessible, too distant from schools, or too cost prohibitive for visitation. Free virtual field trips can help to bridge this gap in experiential learning opportunities for the classroom, especially if educators match topics in texts and curricula. Using GeoEPIC, a Virtual Reality (VR) learning platform and geoinquiry, the authors transitioned a field trip to three glacial basins in Glacier National Park, Montana: Grinnell Glacier, Sexton Glacier, and Sperry Glacier. The authentic, virtual experience immerses the educator and student in landscapes with the perception of being immediately adjacent to these glaciers. Embedded information points, video, and digital twins of physical phenomena allow the user to explore information associated with the Brilha (2016) geodiversity index for site comparisons across the domains of geography, geology, geodiversity, geoheritage and geoconservation. With the browser-based platform, content builder, and VR viewer, educators and students have access to these sites in 3-D without the need for downloads, more expensive headsets, or limitations with screens. A Quick Start Template is used to guide educators on how to identify and integrate these earth system topics in curricula to identify areas in which to enliven and connect to dynamic geography topics in the classroom.
Immersive, place-based education exploring three glacial basins in Glacier National Park, Montana to enhance learning in geography, geoheritage and geodiversity.
Category
Virtual Paper Abstract
Description
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