Journal of Geoscience Education · 1997 · 50 citations · 0 references
EducationEarth SciencesGeology3D ModelingGeomaticsStructural GeologyGeological ModelingGeology EducationGeology InstructionSpatial VisualizationThree-dimensional GeometryThree-dimensional Visualization3D GeovisualizationEarth Structure EducationProcedural HintsSpatial Perception EvaluationSpatial Reasoning In GeologyStructural Geology ModelingThree-dimensional Structural ModelingVisualization In Geology Education
Spatial abilities are essential for studying structural geology, yet few learning aids exist for teaching these spatial topics. The study introduces Geo3D, a software designed to help high‑school earth‑science students perceive geological structures and envision cross sections. Geo3D offers interactive animated 3‑D fold and fault illustrations that students use for spatial investigation and task hints, requiring 1–3 hours of interaction, and was developed through iterative perception studies, prototype creation, evaluation, and refinement.
Spatial abilities are required in the study of structural geology. However, relatively few learning aids for teaching spatial topics in structural geology have been developed. Geo3D is a software that was designed to assist high-school earth-science students in perceiving geological structures and in envisioning cross sections through these structures. Geo3D provides the student with manipulative animated visual illustrations of three-dimensional fold and fault structures. The illustrations are used for “spatial investigation” of structures in the first module of Geo3D and as “hints” for solving “structural tasks” in the second module. The interaction period required for working with the software varies from one to three hours.The design process for Geo3D included investigating perceptions of geological structures; developing the first version of Geo3D; evaluating the early version; and developing an expanded improved version of the software.