The Hotspot simulation Lessons learnt over ten years of using technology in environmental science...

The Hotspot simulation

Lessons learnt over ten years of using technology in environmental science teaching

John Maskall, SoGEES, University of Plymouth

Mike Sanders, GEES Subject Centre

Presentation structure

• What is Hotspot?• Program demonstration• Intended benefits• Potential pitfalls• Implementation in the curriculum• Student experience• Lessons learnt

What is Hotspot?

http://hotspot.gees.ac.uk/

Intended benefits

Personalised

Flexible Interactive

Enjoyable

Challenging

Visual

Potential pitfalls

Authenticity

SecurityUsability

Reliability

Sustainability

Accessibility

Implementation

Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Introduction  

Literature review(scrapyard)          

Field day(lead mine)  

Practical session 1 (formative/lead mine)  

Feedback on literaturereview  

Practical session 2 (summative/scrapyard)  

Prepare SI report        

Lecture series                  

Student experience

Lessons Learnt

• Success of Hotspot is attributed to:– Program closely aligned to learning objectives– Content informed by staff research interests – Technology used within a sound pedagogical

framework– Curricular delivery anticipated at the earliest stages

of design– Blended with other teaching approaches to take the

best ‘from all worlds’– Availability of resources to maintain/adapt software

Acknowledgements

http:/www.ico3.com

Any Questions?