Online Geoscience Offline
Abstract
As universities race ahead with digital learning resources and online courses, the majority of the focus has been on developing new and innovative digital content, without much concern for computer processing power or bandwidth requirements. Most universities have access to an abundance of both, and assume that students without reliable network connectivity or adequate computing technologies at home have access to a nearby university or library. However, the majority of humanity does not yet have access to the internet, often as a result of underdevelopment or conflict. Although "online education" has been touted as a panacea for students who don't have access to premier universities, the reality is that these students may not have the necessary equipment to access digital educational content reliably, nor be able to access services to help them locate, understand, and use the content.
Until internet connectivity, services, and devices to access both are ubiquitous, innovative local solutions may be more appropriate. Co-author Laura Hosman has developed the Solar Powered Educational Learning Library (SolarSPELL), a small solar-powered box that casts a wireless local area network to which nearby devices can connect to access digital content on an SD card within the device. Currently deployed across multiple Pacific Islands and East Africa, these devices provide access to digital educational resources in parts of the world without internet access, university campuses, or nearby libraries, with content tailored for that location and developed in collaboration with local experts. Recently, we have adapted pre-existing immersive virtual field trip (iVFT) technology, paired with Google Cardboard, to be served entirely out of a SolarSPELL, which we will demonstrate. Further, iVFTs developed in collaboration with the Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu, Hawaii, provide a model for developing culturally appropriate immersive environments and associated educational content. These technologies and pedagogical examples provide a template for educators in various cultural contexts and bandwidth environments to think beyond the cutting-edge classroom and to consider the opportunities available for developing novel and innovative geoscience content for low-tech, low-bandwidth environments.- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFMED11C0749H
- Keywords:
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- 0805 Elementary and secondary education;
- EDUCATIONDE: 0815 Informal education;
- EDUCATIONDE: 0825 Teaching methods;
- EDUCATIONDE: 0855 Diversity;
- EDUCATION