1. Preparing Virtual FieldworkResources for FoundationStudentsCarole RushallUniversity of DurhamFoundation Centre Teaching Fellow

2. Introduction to Earth Science Foundation year module11 week module (3 hours per week)9 weeks in class (including some practical work)2 x fieldwork sessions (half day) AssessedMajority of students have no practical geologyexperience and little academic knowledgeSo short duration fieldtrips can be daunting 3. Why virtual?Lack of experience can be a barrier to learning.Practicing field skills by using the virtual resource beforea visit: Allows familiarity with the field area Shows what exposures really look like (not as perfect as intext books) Understand how to undertake practical techniques Allows students to hit the ground runningand make the most of their short time in the field 4. Enhancing the Student LearningExperience fundingProject involved: 2 x Earth Science students for 5 weeks Laptop, camera and Adobe Creative Cloud softwareVirtual resources produced: 2 x Interactive Virtual fieldtrips (Harehope Quarry and Staithes) 4 x how to do videos 3 x detailed information videos 4 x detailed information podcasts 3 x how to do photo guides Photographic explanation of features seen during the fieldtrips Labelled (and unlabelled) photographs of class hand specimens DUO quizzes for module 5. How to video 6. How to photo guide of LSO 7. Podcast 8. Virtual Fieldtrip 9. Where are resourceshttp://community.dur.ac.uk/foundation.science/ 10. DUO module pages 11. Enhancing the fieldtrip Practice of field sketching beforehand using one of theinteractive resources should allow students to makethe most of their limited time in the field. The field experience can be enhanced with the use ofthe digital microscope videos, rocks in thin section,how to videos, and interactive tasks. The resources can also be used for reflection, revisionand reinforcement after the fieldtrip has taken place. 12. Helps with access issues Students may have mobility problems Adverse weather conditions Difficult to access exposures (dangerous/tides/private) Larger range of sites to visit Can work at own pace 13. What next? Trial run this academic year Focus group with students 2 x students for 4 weeks producing further resourcesusing local sites (final year of funding)