Assessment of Student Learning in the Geosciences Through Virtual Field Trip Games for Mobile Devices

• In Event: Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: Technology-Based Learning Environments for STEM Education

Abstract

Geoscience educators consider field trips to be the most effective way of attracting students into the discipline. A solution for bringing student-driven, engaging field experiences to a broader audience lies in ongoing advances in mobile-communication technology. This project involved the development of three geology-themed virtual field trips for smartphones and tablets, and tested their role in student learning. The results revealed gains in learning, not statistically different between intervention and control groups. Predictors of gains for all three modules are the students’ initial interest and their base knowledge. For two field trips, being a STEM major was an important predictor of success. Gender and race had no statistical impact, indicating that the technology had broad reach across student demographics.

Authors

• Natalie Bursztyn, California State University - Fullerton

• Brett E. Shelton, Boise State University

• Andrew Walker, Utah State University

• Mary Ann Parlin, Utah State University

• Joel Pederson, Utah State University