Demonstration

Spatial and temporal reasoning are key components of geoscientific thinking, essential for both solving complex problems and preparing students for the modern workforce. We have created a set of activities that use Visible Geology, a suite of intuitive 3D modeling tools, to provide scaffolded practice to strengthen these critical skills.

The activities and the Visible Geology tools reinforce spatial visualization and the deciphering of geologic histories. Designed for flexibility, these activities can be completed in a single day and are easily integrated into lectures, labs, or homework assignments. The teaching activities range from ~1 hour of time to longer labs or multi-class sessions (3+ hours). Our activities cover topics like the rule of V's, folds in maps and stereonets, fold interference patterns, cross-sections, basin correlation, and reservoir stratigraphy, and are intended for use in classes like field methods, structural geology, and sedimentology/stratigraphy. The Visible Geology tools are applicable for introductory to advanced geoscience courses.