Geology Explorer: Virtual Geologic Mapping and Interpretation

Bernhardt Saini-Eidukata, Donald P. Schwerta, Brian M. Slatorb, Otto Borchertb, Robert Cosmanob, Guy Hokansonb , Carson Rittela, and Shannon Tomacc

 aDept. of Geosciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND

bDept. of Computer Science, North Dakota State University, Fargo, NDcDept. of Art and Design, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN

AbstractThe World Wide Web Instructional Committee at NDSU is developing a range of Virtual Environments for Education. One of these, the Geology Explorer, is a synthetic, internet-based, educational environment (“Planet Oit”) where students carry out geologic investigations as a field geologist would. The newest module provides students an authentic, spatially oriented, geologic mapping experience. Planet Oit can be visited on the internet at http://oit.ndsu.edu/

Base Maps for Adding Data and Creating a Geologic Map

“aerial photo” topographic map

How Do Players Create a Geologic Map?

Tutorials for Learning the Concepts of Geologic Mapping are Available in the

Environment

Results of Tests (in this

case, acid reactivity)

Detail Images for Samples

Players Identify Outcrops Using Tests

A Player (appearance can be changed)

Markers Coded to Rock Type Show

Location of Identified Outcrops

You Are Here

Outcrop Locations are Shown with MarkersPlayer Creates a Geologic Map Based on Outcrop Locations,

and Can Get Immediate Feedback

The Virtual Environment promotes:

•Practical planning and decision making

•Problem solving

•Investigation of real-world content

• Understanding the scientific method

•Mature thinking

The Virtual Environment is:

•MultiUser

•Exploratory

•Spatially-oriented

Educational Role-playing Games: “Learning-by-doing” Experiences The Technical Approach

• Networked, internet based, client-server simulation

• UNIX-based MOO (Multi-User Dungeon, Object Oriented)

• Java-based clients

What is “Planet Oit” ?

• Similar to Earth, but opposite the Sun

•Students “land” on Oit to undertake exploration

•Authentic Geoscience goals - e.g., to locate, identify, and report valuable minerals; to create and interpret a geologic map

~50 places: desert, cutbank, cave, etc.

~100 different rocks and minerals

~15 field instruments: rock pick, acid bottle, magnet, etc.

Software Tutors: intelligent agents for equipment,

exploration, and deduction

BackgroundSpatial Navigation Using Maps and Rendered 3-D Scenes

Player Uses Pen to Draw Map Interpretation

Automated Assessment and

Advice

Geology Explorer research supported by NSF grants DUE-9752548, EAR-9809761, DUE-9981094, ITR-0086142 and EPSCoR 99-77788, and and FIPSE

P116B011528

WWWIC at NDSU

Paul Juell

Donald SchwertPhillip McClean

Brian SlatorBernhardt Saini-Eidukat

Alan WhiteJeff Clark

Lisa Daniels

The Future

More advanced concepts such as thermobarometry can be learned by the student carrying out virtual microprobe analyses of minerals in the metamorphic rocks. For example the student will be able to obtain virtual microchemical analyses of garnet-biotite pairs, and perhaps together with hornblende analyses be able to estimate maximum P-T conditions to which these rocks were subjected.

AcknowledgmentsSpecial thanks are due to John Bauer for Java graphical client development, to Rebecca Potter for graphical development, to Bryan Bandli, Julia Karst-Gray, Ned Kruger, Joy Turnbull, Dean Vestal, Mindy Sue Vogel, Jeff Walsh, and Jane Willenbring for geology content development and assessment, to Mark Tinguely, who saved our world when its universe imploded, and to Dave Schmidt for the name: Planet Oit.

Rejects the notion of standardized multiple choice tests

Pre-game narrative-based survey• short problem-solving stories • students record their impressions and questions

Similar post-game survey with different but analogous scenarios

Surveys analyzed for improvement in problem-solving

Assessment