Geodiversity
and its educational benefits
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Go straight to the online resources for teachers,
students and children
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Education
is a key element of the Anglesey Geodiversity project. The teaching of
geology has declined over the years to such an extent that many
universities, colleges and schools no longer include geology in their
courses or curricula. However, recent shortages in geologists for the
economic and commercial sectors, particularly the oil and gas industry,
have provided a much-needed wake-up call. Attempts to reverse the
decline have started with the Earth Science Education Unit at Keele
University developing geological INSET (In-Service Training) days to
equip teachers with more effective geological teaching skills. It is
hoped that stimulating interest among teachers will herald a dramatic
improvement in the numbers of students, at all ages, wishing to study
geology and related disciplines.
At the same time, Anglesey has an outstanding resource of geosites
which is currently massively underused, and clear economic reasons to
attract more visitors to the island. One of the chief aims of this
project is to promote the sustainable use of Anglesey's geosites for
education, a field which is considered here in four formal divisions.
Pre-school
& Primary education
This covers ages 3-11 years, "The Learning Country" and Key Stages 1
& 2 in the National Curriculum. Although challenging, this is one
of the most important educational elements to tackle: children enthused
with geology and related subjects at an early age have greater
opportunity for developing their interests as their education
progresses. The CCW/RIGS pilot study to find out what local schools and
teachers require in the way of field and other geodiversity resources,
has identified the Wylfa power station visitor centre as the principal
opportunity to develop educational resources based on local geosites
and materials. A 'Young Geologists' Club' akin to the already
established 'Young Archaeologists' Club' is also proposed.
Secondary
& Tertiary education
This covers ages 11-18 years, Key Stages 3 and 4 in the National
Curriculum, and the newly introduced Welsh Baccalaureate qualification.
The requirements for geosites and geodiversity materials stem both from
the science and geology elements of the curriculum, and include GCSE
geology and A-level geology. Initial proposals include the development
of worksheets, publications and web-based materials for the Holy Island
area of Anglesey (particularly South Stack & Rhoscolyn). All RIGS
on the island are being assessed for their suitability as field sites
for education at this level.
Higher
education
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Anglesey has long been used by universities all over Britain for the
teaching of geology as a field science. Although this use has declined
perceptibly in recent years (with the advent of cheap flights to
geological study areas abroad), many geosites are still used regularly
for geological teaching, and by students learning geological mapping
techniques. An aim of ours is sustainably to increase this use, and
encourage more university parties to stay longer on the island. We need
to find out which universities are using the island already, which
sites they are visiting and the type of information (scientific
booklets, guides & trails; details of local accommodation etc.)
that would be useful to university students and lecturers. Maximising
the use of geosites (particularly GCR sites/SSSI & RIGS) for
scientific research and publication is also an aim of the project.
Life-long
learning
Life-long learning is a growing element of education provision, and
encompasses a highly diverse range of ages, abilities and social
backgrounds. It includes formal provision, in the form of courses run
from educational establishments, and informal provision in the form of
events and publications facilitated by societies, clubs and trusts. It
is one of the 'markets' targeted by the growing series of RIGS
geological town-trail publications and RIGS-led field trips and events.
It is important that the production of life-long learning materials is
dovetailed with the strategy for geotourism products (Section 4).
The
Education sub-section of this website
We are in the process of developing a sub-section on educational
matters, which will contain sections for teachers, students and younger
children, with downloadable fact-sheets and other useful material. To
access it, please click the button below.

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Above: using analogy to get across large concepts, like the vastness of
geological time - here plotted against our 12-month calendar (J.S.
Mason).
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Above: the folding on the coast at Rhoscolyn has attracted generations
of structural geology undergraduates. Photo: Paul Kabrna.
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Above: life-long learning among the rocks at Red Wharf Bay, where the
Lower Carboniferous strata are well-exposed. Photo: Stewart Campbell.
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Above: part of an Open University Geology Society field-party willing
the tide to go out a little further so that they can get a closer look
at the pillow-lavas of Ynys Llanddwyn. Photo: Bill Fitches. |
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