Proposal Title
The geology of Southern Ontario: Geographic information software for sharing map-based narratives as a tool for open-source education and science communication
Session Type
Poster
Room
Thames Hall Atrium
Start Date
13-7-2023 4:30 PM
End Date
13-7-2023 6:00 PM
Keywords
Southern Ontario Geology, open access, ArcGIS StoryMap
Primary Threads
Teaching and Learning Science
Abstract
The geology and geological history of Southern Ontario is a fundamental part of university undergraduate courses in Earth Science and Geoscience programs. The broader public, however, is usually only able to learn about parts of the expansive geology and long geological history of Southern Ontario in jargon-laden geological resources or through interpretive panels at specific tourist destinations. Here we present the “The Geology of Southern Ontario” ArcGIS StoryMap (https://arcg.is/0fP1WH), a digital open access resource that enables everyone, from the general public, to amateur geologists, and elementary, secondary or post-secondary school teachers to learn about how Southern Ontario’s geologic record evolved. This resource aims to focus on selected learning objectives so the reader can understand, engage, and remember knowledge about the geology of Southern Ontario such as the three basic rock units, basic rock formation processes, and where such rocks can be found. Additionally, it includes information about how Southern Ontario’s geology influences our daily lives. It does this by presenting examples of which resources we extract (e.g. for smartphones, computers, cars), how it influences agriculture, or how the present geography and landforms seen along the many hiking trails of Southern Ontario, are related to long and short-term geologic processes.
Readers will encounter short “Pause to think” questions and summaries at the end of each section, were we encourage the reader to think critically about and internalize the knowledge. The learning objectives, pause to think, and summaries all hope to spark a feeling of belonging and being part of our fascinating and constantly evolving Earth. This resource is being developed in collaboration with the University of Waterloo, University of Toronto-Scarborough, the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC), Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) and the Ontario Oil, Gas and Salt Resource Library (OGSRL) to increase access to geoscientific information usually only discussed in universities, specific governmental branches, and industry. The StoryMap forms the foundation for other open educational resources and educational teaching tools that are currently in development, which include physical and digital 3D models of the surface to subsurface geology of Southern Ontario.
Elements of Engagement
Bring a smart phone or tablet to view and engage with the “Geology of Southern Ontario” StoryMap and other integrated digital resources (e.g. AR 3D models, Sketchfab 3D models, short clips) by using QR codes.
Touch teaching objects such as 3D printed models of subsurface geology, mineral rock and fossil samples and view a geologic map to learn more about the Geology of Southern Ontario.
Provide us with feedback: https://forms.office.com/r/EhqDAHsF3W
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
The geology of Southern Ontario: Geographic information software for sharing map-based narratives as a tool for open-source education and science communication
Thames Hall Atrium
The geology and geological history of Southern Ontario is a fundamental part of university undergraduate courses in Earth Science and Geoscience programs. The broader public, however, is usually only able to learn about parts of the expansive geology and long geological history of Southern Ontario in jargon-laden geological resources or through interpretive panels at specific tourist destinations. Here we present the “The Geology of Southern Ontario” ArcGIS StoryMap (https://arcg.is/0fP1WH), a digital open access resource that enables everyone, from the general public, to amateur geologists, and elementary, secondary or post-secondary school teachers to learn about how Southern Ontario’s geologic record evolved. This resource aims to focus on selected learning objectives so the reader can understand, engage, and remember knowledge about the geology of Southern Ontario such as the three basic rock units, basic rock formation processes, and where such rocks can be found. Additionally, it includes information about how Southern Ontario’s geology influences our daily lives. It does this by presenting examples of which resources we extract (e.g. for smartphones, computers, cars), how it influences agriculture, or how the present geography and landforms seen along the many hiking trails of Southern Ontario, are related to long and short-term geologic processes.
Readers will encounter short “Pause to think” questions and summaries at the end of each section, were we encourage the reader to think critically about and internalize the knowledge. The learning objectives, pause to think, and summaries all hope to spark a feeling of belonging and being part of our fascinating and constantly evolving Earth. This resource is being developed in collaboration with the University of Waterloo, University of Toronto-Scarborough, the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC), Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) and the Ontario Oil, Gas and Salt Resource Library (OGSRL) to increase access to geoscientific information usually only discussed in universities, specific governmental branches, and industry. The StoryMap forms the foundation for other open educational resources and educational teaching tools that are currently in development, which include physical and digital 3D models of the surface to subsurface geology of Southern Ontario.