13 Building Connections Between Educators and Geoscientists to Foster the Future Workforce

Join us in sharing effective educational outreach practices and opportunities to connect geoscience researchers, educators, and outreach professionals. Topics include using data in the classroom, place-based and experiential learning, co-developing educational resources, and community engagement.

Monday, 9 March 2026
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
RCC, 103

Investigating and Documenting Local Geoheritage Sites within Online Courses

Paper number: 13-13
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 4:45 PM – 5:00 PM

Authors

  • Renee Clary
    Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS

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.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 1

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026SE-411883

© Copyright 2026 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.