Integrating Macrostrat and Rockd into Undergraduate Earth Science Teaching

Outlines the use of Macrostrat and Rockd, and provides examples of how to integrate them into a variety of courses.

Phoebe A. Cohen (Author), Rowan Lockwood (Author), Shanan Peters (Author)

9781108717854, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 29 November 2018

75 pages, 5 colour illus.
23 x 15.3 x 0.3 cm, 0.07 kg

New online resources are opening doors for education and outreach in the Earth sciences. One of the most innovative online earth science portals is Macrostrat and its mobile client Rockd - an interface that combines geolocated geological maps with stratigraphic information, lithological data, and crowd-sourced images and descriptions of outcrops. These tools provide a unique educational opportunity for students to interact with primary geological data, create connections between local outcrops and global patterns, and make new field observations. Rockd incorporates an aspect of social media to its platform, which creates a sense of community for users. This Element outlines these resources, gives instructions on how to use them, and provides examples of how to integrate these resources into a variety of paleontology and earth science courses.

1. Introduction
2. How to use Macrostrat and Rockd
3. Educational integration - examples and ideas
4. Student feedback and conclusions.

Subject Areas: Palaeontology [RBX], Educational equipment & technology, computer-aided learning [CAL JNV], Teaching of a specific subject [JNU], Teaching skills & techniques [JNT], Universities [JNMN]