Navigating the Transition to Virtual Education: Collaboration to Develop Accessible Virtual Hydrogeology Field Experiences

Abstract:

This presentation describes the efforts of the Virtual Hydrogeology/Environmental Field Experiences working group, as a part of IAGD and NAGT’s Designing Remote Field Experiences joint effort. In March of 2020, as courses and field camps started to move to remote delivery, a great need emerged for scientifically rigorous and educationally sound, ready-to-implement field experiences. A group of geoscientist and science educators met weekly via Zoom to develop virtual field experiences, guided by NAGT-established learning outcomes. Subgroups collaborated in a virtual setting to develop products focused on groundwater flow, surface water, and karst hydrogeology. These products include peer-reviewed activity descriptions, teacher resources, student handouts, assessments, and rubrics and are published on SERC Virtual Field Experiences repository. While the working group meetings were synchronous, the subgroups worked asynchronously to develop the products. The main challenge was that the working group members were volunteers and this effort was undertaken during the uncertain time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other challenges were rooted in strengthening and aligning the assessments with objectives and learning outcomes, and lack of collaborative transdisciplinary efforts in hydrologic education. To navigate the development of accessible virtual resources, we recommend continued support of similar efforts by organizations such as NAGT, CUAHSI, USGS, and other organizations. Virtual field experiences are an important alternative to traditional field experiences and cultivate students’ transferable skills.