Improving student understanding of complex spatial-temporal relationships in Earth Sciences using computer animation and visualization

Although an ability to comprehend complex spatial-temporal relationships is central to understanding many aspects of GEES disciplines, students regularly struggle to fully appreciate the significance of such relationships in part because traditional teaching techniques do not graphically convey 3D and 4D relationships effectively. The development and deployment of a series of computer-generated simulations and video-based animations as part of a second year undergraduate sedimentology course within a Geology degree programme has been effective in addressing these issues. Implementation of these resources within a series of student-led practical exercises and self-learning revision tools is shown to be a powerful teaching tool for demonstrating how large scale sedimentary environments evolve over space and time and how their deposits become preserved in the rock record. Undergraduate performances in class tests show the beneficial impact these resources are having in improving student understanding and the quality of the learning experience.