Open University United Kingdom Virtual Microscope for Earth Sciences
Our main aim is to create a United Kingdom Virtual Microscope for Earth Sciences (UKVM) as an Open Educational Resource with wrap around learning materials, making a step change in the teaching of Earth Sciences and contributing to the creation of “Digital Britain”. The UKVM will provide on-line teaching material and broaden access to exemplar, rare and unique specimens of British rocks that are currently held in museums, university teaching collections, and in the British Geological Survey collection.
Learning to classify, indentify and interpret rocks, the science known as petrology, has conventionally involved thin polished slices examined using a petrological microscope. These microscopes are expensive (£1,000-£50,000) and require regular maintenance, so their use is restricted to university teaching laboratories (during normal working hours), museums or research institutes. The rock thin sections themselves may also be difficult to obtain, particularly historic specimens which in many cases are unique. Access to these samples and teaching material is often difficult, and has meant the teaching of such skills has reduced both in schools and HE institutions.
We aim to improve access by making available a wide range of digitised rocks and rock thin sections, by creating a set of themed rock collections derived from different areas of the British Isles and creating wrap around teaching materials. The collections will be drawn from our project partners, for example granites from South West England, or basalts from the north Atlantic volcanic province in Scotland.
These samples will be made available using an innovative browser-based application with HTML5 software created at the Open University. Access will be via desktop PCs/Macs, laptops and mobile devices (such as smart phones and tablets).
Using the UKVM, students will zoom, pan and rotate specimens in variable light conditions, helping to develop their classification and identification skills without need for high cost microscopes and thin section preparation facilities.
Our intention is to engage and excite students in Earth Sciences using rocks of the British Isles held in key collections, and teaching materials to aid teaching of mineral and rock identification skills in HE institutions and schools.