A Virtual Field Guide and its application as a general learning tool The virtual tutor

1
Prof. Brian Whalley (Geography) Dr Alastair
Ruffell (Geography) Prof. Noel Sheehy (Psychology)
A Virtual Field Guide and its application as a
general learning tool (The virtual tutor)
Introduction For the most part, things 'virtual'
are just 'on the web'. Virtual field trips are
commonly seen like this. Showing images is not a
substitute for doing, or, at the very least,
thinking about a real world (field) problem.
There is still a need for tools to enable
interactive material to be placed easily within a
web-based structure that is adaptable (for
instructor and learner), easy of operation
(again, for both) but with a degree of
sophistication that makes the material presented
an intelligent learning experience.
Aims of the Project To develop a Virtual Field
Guide with generic application for web-based
teaching and learning that will be pedagogically
sound but provide a variety of learning
opportunities for students with assessment and
feedback incorporated into the overall structure.

• Potential benefits to students
• Illustrative material before a practical task
  (e.g. Field trip, Lab. Work, Tutorial)
• Back up material after such a practical task
• The opportunity to enhance learning or add to
  experiences in both theory and practice
• Potential benefits for tutors
• Allow information (especially visual) to be
  available in a meaningful way
• Allow assessment and feedback within the system
  associated with completed tasks
• Allow presentation of graphics, assessment and
  feedback of comments and marks.

Current status The project is currently under
development as an extension of existing web-based
graphic and descriptive materials such as
pictorial material of field trips. Tasks are
being written (using Java and XML) which will
allow questions to be asked of the student but
which block progression to the next scene (or
question etc.) until a suitable answer has been
provided. Other questions or tasks can be
inserted into the flat HTML pages and so it is
possible to build up a guide using some
standard units. The guide, which can be any sort
of Socratic dialogue, not just graphics, sets
appropriate questions and brings together a
variety of units, together with a database, to
act as a tutor. The diagram shows a simple
schematic of such a system. The compendium
consists of summary material, revision questions,
quiz, glossary etc. within the database. The
first tests are due in autumn semester 2003.