Development of Web-based Field Classes for Earth Science Teaching in the North of Ireland There is no other metropolitan area of NW Europe with the diversity of rock strata than in the Greater Belfast Area. So why do we need web-based learning aids? Alastair Ruffell & Brian Whalley,

Of the eras of the Phanerozoic (550 million years to the present, these are present: Tertiary  Antrim basalts Cretaceous  Ulster White Limestone Jurassic  Lias shales Triassic  Mercia Mudstone, Sherwood Sandstone Permian  Brockram, Magnesian Limestone Carboniferous  Cultra shales & limestones Devonian X Silurian  Co. Down greywackes & shales Ordovician  “ Cambrian X

So why do we need web-based learning aids? Paucity of people who have the time to undertake field classes. Need to encourage schools, general public, researchers (esp those from outside N.I) and our students into the field. Need to use technology to aid those with mobility restriction experience field science.

Methodology is two-tiered 1. Academic staff make virtual field classes for demonstration to large classes, for reinforcement, revision, assessment on the web and for wider access through Environment & Heritage Service. 2. Student projects can emulate and improve the above.

Talk structure Example of a student project - Belshaw’s Quarry, Lisburn. Use of such virtual trips in assessment. Example of how the student developed this during employment.

Virtual tour of Belshaw’s Quarry, Lisburn Case Study Virtual tour of Belshaw’s Quarry, Lisburn

Tertiary Antrim Lava Group Stop 5 Stop 2 Stop 1 Cretaceous Ulster White Limestone Overview of the quarry from Stops 3 & 4, Facing north-east.

What are we going to do? Visit these stops and link them into a geological summary for student learning

Young beds The cliff is about 12 metres high Old beds Stop 1. Horizontally-bedded Ulster White Limestone.

At the UWL - basalt contact, a 20 - 40cm thick bed of lignite (brown coal) is found. This is the evidence for uplift and exposure of the Cretaceous rocks in the Tertiary prior to basaltic lava eruption Next view of Stop 2 Stops 1 & 2: faulted Triassic Mercia Mudstone, Cretaceous Ulster White Limestone and Tertiary basalt

Slickenfibres (vertical) Fault plane Location 2. Fault block and base Cretaceous U/C Triassic - Cretaceous unconformity Stop 2

Location 2: under fault plane, unconformity between Triassic Mercia Mudstone and Cretaceous Ulster White Limestone

Contact of basalt & limestone Tertiary basalt Next shot Cretaceous Ulster White Limestone Clay & lignite Stop 3. On the steps, facing south-east.

Stop 3: close-up facing west. Lignite (black, not brown, possibly from heating by basalt lava) basalt 20p Sub-lignite grey clay - a fossil soil? Weathered top of limestone

Location 4: Tertiary dyke cross-cuts Tertiary lava flows (basalt) Location 4: Tertiary dyke cross-cuts Tertiary lava flows (basalt). Both have vesicles (fossil gas bubbles) and amygdales (infilled gas bubble holes) of 1cm diameter

Stop 5: Tertiary basaltic dyke cuts Ulster White Limestone. Dyke trends NW - SE. dyke Next view in this direction Before quarrying operations, the dyke extended across the area as one “wall” of basalt

Stop 5: Tertiary basalt dyke cross-cuts Cretaceous Upper White Limestone

Here is our original view of the quarry, Now lets put our geological information on -

Belshaw’s Quarry, facing north- east Ground surface Stop 4 Stop 3 Stop 3 Stop 1 Stop 2 Here is what we saw at each stop: now lets put it together in diagram form!

Artwork by Maura Pringle

Assessment structure for lecturer trips Overview, Aims, Objectives Student: register, name number,e-mail Questions, Introduction etc Modules, M1 ….. M2 …... M3 …… Over-view 1 Questions 1 Over-view 2 Questions 2 'Scenes' 1 Extra info 1 'Hints' 1 'Scenes' 2 Extra info 2 'Hints' 2 Student file Answers Given, 1, 2 'Solutions', reminders, notes Tutor file