Location-Based Tool Brings Soil Science Out of the Classroom Through Mobile Technology.

As smartphone and tablet usage continues to rise in Canada and around the world, this opens opportunities to create mobile learning resources that enhance accessibility of educational content and engaged learning. Currently, the Virtual Soil Science Learning Resources (VSSLR) group (www.soilweb.ca) is developing an innovative on-line, location-based tool that uses mobile technology and global positioning system (GPS) coordinates to connect virtual content (e.g., text, graphics, videos) to specific geographical locations. The tool is based on two educational websites – “Canadian Soil Orders” (http://soilweb.landfood.ubc.ca/classification/) and “Land Use Impacts on Soil Quality” (http://soilweb.landfood.ubc.ca/luitool/). Using responsive design (formatted for both desktop and mobile devices), an interactive map of British Columbia is being created and populated with detailed content from the websites mentioned above. This tool adds innovation to the traditional soil science curriculum by engaging learners both inside and outside the classroom. It allows learners to undertake self-guided field trips and take advantage of experiential, hands-on learning at a real life field location combined with access to virtual content about that specific location.  Learners stay connected to the physical world via their natural senses (e.g., touch, vision, smell) while at the same time having access to, and interacting with, digital information specific to their field location. The flexibility of the location-based tool (Google Fusion Table, which links site information to a dynamic database) will also allow, in the next phase of its development, a basis upon which end-users can expand through crowdsourcing activities. A number of target audiences including students, soil scientists and professionals, land managers and even avid gardeners can input information for more geographical sites that can expand this network across Canada, connecting people interested in soils. An interactive overview of the latest version of the tool will be given during the presentation.