13-11 Investigating and Documenting Local Geoheritage Sites within Online Courses

Session: Building Connections Between Educators and Geoscientists to Foster the Future Workforce

Presenting Author:

Author:

Abstract:

Although students experience their local geoheritage through daily living, the concept of “geoheritage” is often not applied by students to their local landscapes.  Online geology classes provide opportunities for students to explore and share their local area examples with their colleagues. Not only are students exposed to a multitude of examples because students in many online courses are geographically diverse, but students also become ‘experts’ of their landscapes.

Over the past 20 years, we utilized local environments as laboratories for online student learning and provided opportunities for students to conduct field work in their local areas. Our assignments ranged from locating landforms that students felt best represented their area, to instructor-led student selections of specific features in the local environment. Students share their research and local geoheritage on discussion boards in the form of videos, photos, or even presentations. 

We also specifically developed place-based geology courses for community college students that focused on the geoheritage of the state of Mississippi. In introductory physical and historical geology classes whose development was funded through an NSF IUSE GEOPAths grant, we introduced each unit with a “IN MISSISSIPP!” video that related each topic to the state’s local geology. Students were tasked with locating and sharing their local Mississippi examples of geology. Some students even recommended that we feature Mississippi locations of which we had previously been unaware. Students’ end-of-year feedback consistently included their surprise of the geological complexity of their local areas, and pride in their local geoheritage. Local geoheritage investigations in online classes not only make students aware of their local environments but also promote pride and ownership in the local area.

© Copyright 2026 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved.