A rocky revolution: Can virtual 3D models transform the teaching of geology?

Suitable for 14-19-year olds (secondary and high schools, and college), this article and accompanying activity sheet can be used in the classroom, STEM clubs and at home.

This resource links to KS4 and KS5 geology and geography.

It can also be used as a careers resource and links to Gatsby Benchmarks:
Gatsby Benchmark 2: Learning from career and labour market information
Gatsby Benchmark 4: Linking curriculum learning to careers

• This teaching resource explains the work of Professors Terry Pavlis and Laura Serpa, geologists at the University of Texas El Paso. They are creating virtual 3D models of geological features to revolutionise the teaching of geology, allowing everyone to participate in virtual geology fieldtrips.

• This resource also contains interviews with Terry and Laura and offers an insight into careers in geology. If your students have questions for Terry and Laura, they can send them to them online. All they need to do is to go to the article online (see the Futurum link below), scroll down to the end and type in the question(s). Terry and Laura will reply!

• The activity sheet provides ‘talking points’ (based on Bloom’s Taxonomy) to prompt students to reflect on Terry and Laura’s research and challenges them to go on a virtual geology field trip by exploring Terry and Laura’s 3D geology models.

• The article and activity sheet are also available in Spanish through the weblink below.

This resource was first published on Futurum Careers, a free online resource and magazine aimed at encouraging 14-19-year-olds worldwide to pursue careers in science, tech, engineering, maths, medicine (STEM) and social sciences, humanities and the arts for people and the economy (SHAPE).

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