Virtual Field Trips for Introductory Geoscience Classes

Field trips are a core component of geoscience education. Multiple factors have made taking field trips difficult, and many schools no longer take introductory-level classes on field trips. The Virtual Field Trip of California Geomorphology was developed as a solution to provide an alternative to real field trips. The Virtual Field Trip of California Geomorphology brings some of the most dynamic elements of technology, including Google Earth, Google Maps, and annotated photographs from field sites around the state to the student’s computer or smart phone. The field trip is based on a series of real field trips to the eastern Sierra, the Carrizo Plain, and the central Coast Ranges in California. The Virtual Field Trip is modular, and it employs detailed, module-level learning outcomes with guided inquiry worksheets. Applications of technology, learning design, and cognitive and affective learning outcomes are discussed.