Using Virtual Landscapes for Remote Teaching: Light House Bay - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Using Virtual Landscapes for Remote Teaching: Light House Bay Geologic Mapping Exercise

Mark Helper, helper@jsg.utexas.edu Jackson School of Geosciences University of Texas at Austin

GSA/NAGT Digital Field Tools for Teaching Webinar Series

• M. Helper, Geological Sciences, U. Texas Austin 6/30/2020

GSA/NAGT Digital Field Tools for Teaching Webinar Series: Using Virtual Landscapes for Remote Teaching

My Learning Objectives

• How does geologic outcrop mapping proceed, from studying base

maps to executing and modifying mapping strategies?

• How are field data recorded on a base map?
• How are strike & dip, rule of V's and strike lines used to test mapping

hypotheses and guide mapping strategies?

• How is a geologic map completed with a limited amount of data?

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• M. Helper, Geological Sciences, U. Texas Austin 6/30/2020

GSA/NAGT Digital Field Tools for Teaching Webinar Series: Using Virtual Landscapes for Remote Teaching

Online Environment

• Taught on Zoom, assisted by a TA and another instructor
• Materials distributed beforehand; most students printed base maps
• Students tested VL software a week prior to the exercise
• First mapping project for a sophomore intro. field class of 54 students

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• M. Helper, Geological Sciences, U. Texas Austin 6/30/2020

GSA/NAGT Digital Field Tools for Teaching Webinar Series: Using Virtual Landscapes for Remote Teaching

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Strike and Dip of Bedding Colored outcrop, indicating rock type or unit

Materials: Base Map with 33 Outcrops & Symbol Key

Numbered Outcrop 31

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Distributed in PDF

• M. Helper, Geological Sciences, U. Texas Austin 6/30/2020

GSA/NAGT Digital Field Tools for Teaching Webinar Series: Using Virtual Landscapes for Remote Teaching

• Geologic Map
• Symbol Key
• Ordered Stratigraphic Column

Final Products – Student Example

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(Submitted as photo of hand-colored paper map)

• M. Helper, Geological Sciences, U. Texas Austin 6/30/2020

GSA/NAGT Digital Field Tools for Teaching Webinar Series: Using Virtual Landscapes for Remote Teaching

Project Outline and Zoom Sessions Timeline

• 10 am Tech. issues, printed maps, intro. to project
• 10:30 Get started individually – discover and map outcrops
• 11:00 Reassemble: progress reports polls –outcrops, rock types, strategy
• 11:15 Breakout Rooms (3 w/staff member): address breakout questions
• Noon Reassemble to answer breakout questions
• 12:30 Lunch
• 1:15 Reassemble: afternoon instructions
• 1:30 Individual work to finish outcrop mapping
• 2:30 Reassemble: instructions for finishing map using strike lines
• 3:15-5:00 Finish map & stratigraphic section

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Details online at https://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/online_field/activities/236670.html

• M. Helper, Geological Sciences, U. Texas Austin 6/30/2020

GSA/NAGT Digital Field Tools for Teaching Webinar Series: Using Virtual Landscapes for Remote Teaching

Example Breakout Room Questions

Team 1: Where are the oldest rocks on the map? Answer with

• utcrop number(s)

Team 2: What is the stratigraphic sequence, from oldest to youngest? Answer by placing outcrop numbers in ordered list Team 3: What does the orientation of strike & dip predict for the shape and direction of V’s as rock units cross valleys and ridges? Answer via annotated copy of base map

• Team answer in Chat Window and/or shared screen at Noon

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• M. Helper, Geological Sciences, U. Texas Austin 6/30/2020

GSA/NAGT Digital Field Tools for Teaching Webinar Series: Using Virtual Landscapes for Remote Teaching

Afternoon Sessions

• 1-1.5 hrs. mapping
• 40 minute Zoom session on use of strike lines for mapping
• ~10 minute video on constructing strike lines
• ~30 minute on example from Light House Bay, with questions
• 1.5 hrs. to finish map

Finished work submitted the following day

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Strike line video and Light House Bay example online at: https://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/online_field/activities/236670.html

• M. Helper, Geological Sciences, U. Texas Austin 6/30/2020

GSA/NAGT Digital Field Tools for Teaching Webinar Series: Using Virtual Landscapes for Remote Teaching

Final Products – Another Example

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(Hybrid hand- and computer-drafted)

• M. Helper, Geological Sciences, U. Texas Austin 6/30/2020

GSA/NAGT Digital Field Tools for Teaching Webinar Series: Using Virtual Landscapes for Remote Teaching

Results & Student Feedback

• Students experienced difficulties similar to those in the field:
• navigation & location (generally less of a problem)
• projecting contacts through cover
• developing strategies and testable hypotheses
• Found the software and experience enjoyable – felt they

were learning to map

• Were able to successfully build on the experience in a more

difficult second Virtual Landscape exercise

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