Experiential Learning

This is a project proposal to understand how the Canadian population understand earthquake magnitude and intensity. The project incorporates three strategies: historical, linguistic, and socio-cultural, to come to these understandings.

This page contains visual representations of project landscapes and virtual outcrop models

With geoscience enrollment at the University of Calgary quadrupling over two decades, traditional field experiences have become difficult to deliver. To address this, the department is developing Virtual Field Experiences (VFEs) - interactive, web-based explorations that bring essential field learning into the classroom and enhance student engagement in the early years of study.

To address the strain on geoscience resources caused by rapidly increasing enrollment, the University of Calgary is developing Virtual Field Experiences (VFEs) — immersive, web-based explorations that replicate real fieldwork and enhance student engagement. This initiative aims to restore vital field-based learning in the early years of the program through interactive, inquiry-driven digital environments.

Students investigate dinosaur trace fossils through life-size footprint sets. Using a Dinosaur Track Identification Chart, they identify track types, measure foot length and stride length, and record data in provided tables. From these measurements, they calculate hip height, total body length, and movement type (walking, trotting, or running) based on stride-to-hip-height ratios. Students analyze the spatial relationships of trackways to infer dinosaur behavior, movement patterns, and interactions, then create a narrative explaining the site’s history, noting strengths and limitations of their interpretation.

This dramatization of the Age of the Earth Debate uses storytelling to make scientific concepts more relatable and memorable. Performed by students, the debate weaves historical and scientific perspectives into a narrative format, fostering engagement, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of geology’s development. Video links allow students to experience the performance firsthand.