103-16 Designing an Engaging Exercise for Teaching Ichnofossil Identification using SedimentSketch

Session: Balancing Tradition and Innovation: Evolving Geoscience Curricula for a Changing World (Posters)

Poster Booth No.: 16

Presenting Author:

Carlos Alvarez Zarikian

Authors:

Alvarez Zarikian, Carlos¹, Rodriguez-Tovar, Francisco J.², Laya, Juan Carlos³, Stepanova, Anna⁴, Ali, Fizza⁵, Bajaj, Divij⁶, Anwar, Saira⁷

(1) Scientific Ocean Drilling Coordination Office, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX, USA, (2) Department of Stratigraphy and Paleontology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain, (3) Department of Geology & Geophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, (4) Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, (5) Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, (6) Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA, (7) Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA,

Abstract:

SedimentSketch is a digital learning platform developed to enhance undergraduate education in Sedimentology using interactive exercises, educational videos, and gamified learning elements. This presentation focuses on the development of an Ichnology exercise module within the application designed to teach students how to identify trace fossils and ichnofacies. Designing an ichnology exercise is a novel approach in undergraduate geoscience education, as ichnology, the study of trace fossils and biogenic sedimentary structures, is rarely included in standard sedimentology curricula at the undergraduate level. Yet, ichnology provides valuable insights into depositional environments and paleoecology. Integrating hands-on ichnological analysis into sedimentology courses not only fills a significant pedagogical gap but also enhances students’ ability to interpret sedimentary records using biogenic structures.

The ichnology module begins with a glossary of essential ichnological terms, followed by a reference screen outlining six main ichnofossil types found in outcrops and cores (Planolites, Chondrites, Thalassinoides, Zoophycos, Skolithos and Ophiomorpha), each illustrated with images and detailed descriptions. Students then progress to an interactive activity where they identify an unknown sample by selecting observable ichnological features such as size, orientation, framework, and wall type of the ichnofossil. Based on their selections, students compare their observations with a reference database to make a final identification. Correct answers are rewarded with a visual cue (a star), while incorrect responses trigger tailored feedback to guide learning. The Ichnology exercise exemplifies how structured, interactive design can reinforce core concepts and improve student engagement in geoscience education.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

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