Previously, I’ve hinted that I was working on a top secret special project for Pearson Education. Now that the books have been published, I wanted to take a moment to discuss the details of the project. In the newest editions of both Earth: An introduction to Physical Geology (Tarbuck, Lutgens, & Tasa, 2014) and Foundations of Earth Science (Lutgens, Tarbuck, & Tasa, 2014), you’ll find a series of videos that I’ve made – over 165 in total! The videos are integrated with the text, using key figures as reference points. Next to those figures, you’ll find Quick Response (QR) codes. These codes exist so students can scan them with their smartphones and instantly bring up an explanatory video. We call the videos “SmartFigures.”
Here’s a video introduction I made to the project:
In addition to this novel medium, both texts have been thoroughly re-written and re-designed. Each chapter is now organized around a series of 7 to 12 learning objectives – tasks that students will be able to master as they learn. The learning objectives are laid out explicitly at the start of the chapter, then each subsection of the chapter tackles a single learning objective. Instead of clumping all the review questions together at the chapter’s end (the traditional way of organizing an intro science text), there are 3 to 5 review questions at the end of each subsection. At the end of the chapter, each subsection gets a brief review: the learning objective is stated anew, key terms are listed for that subsection, and a bullet-pointed review follows. Here’s an example:
These reviews are often accompanied by a key image, and perhaps a review question. Extensional activities (called “Give it Some Thought”) follow that on a separate page. Throughout the chapter, the successful “Geologist’s Sketch” images are joined by “Eye on Earth,” which showcases some of the finest satellite and aerial imagery (most by Michael Collier) to illustrate key concepts of the chapter.
All in all, I think the re-imagined 11th edition of Earth and 7th edition of Foundations will be amazing tools for the modern student to master geology in a way that hasn’t been possible before now. I’m thrilled to have been invited to contribute to the project. We’ve got some other ideas about how to transform the geology textbook for the digital era, but if you have notions about how to make texts more effective, then let me or the authors know.
Callan, this is brilliant! I’m currently training to teach online courses, and these ill be great supplements to the text. Congrats on a successful project!
It’s a very clever and innovative idea. Now, what provisions has the publisher made to ensure that every student who has probably already plunked down over $150 for either text will have the necessary funds to buy a smartphone and pay for monthly subscriptions? In the current economy, anything that increases the cost of education is questionable at best.
Since it’s fairly safe to assume that every student now has computer access, why not put all those little videos on a DVD that comes with the text?
DVDs? Why bother with physical chunks of plastic? These are all available – free and open access, on the Internet!
Online access is all well and good if you have a broadband connection where you study. Many low income urban and very rural students do not have broadband internet access at home.
Fair enough point, I reckon. Yes, it seems like there should be a DVD option for students in those circumstances.
Those students, of which I was one, can always download the media to their laptop, or a zip-drive using the university’s machines. I do think that publishers of text books are ripping off students …10 or 12 editions, of what is essentially, the same text? Please!
This edition isn’t just a re-publishing of the same material – I know, having viewed the process from the inside, that a LOT of work and thought and blood and sweat and tears and binary digits went into this new edition.
Hi Callan:
Congratulations on completing this great edition. My question relates to the other GEL books from Pearson. Are they going to be using your updated info on their “Essentials in Geology” textbook (also by Lutgens, Tarbuck, and Tasa – http://bit.ly/ZSw7ju). I have been using “Essentials” for quite a while but. I am about to switch to Cengage’s GEOL book (Wicander and Monroe – http://bit.ly/WJI8J3) because of the ancillary information. I feel that it would be better for my Introductory Geology (non-science major) classes, especially the online course.
What are the major differences, in your opinion with the Pearson books? Which do you use for NOVA’s Intro courses?
Thanks Callan.
Brian DiBartolo
Gaston Gollege
Dallas, NC
Hi Brian,
Yes, Essentials is in the revision pipeline too, and these same features will be woven into that new edition.
What are the Wicander & Monroe ancillaries that you’re particularly keen on?
I use Earth in my Physical Geology classes at NOVA. I used Marshak for a while, too – and think it’s a perfectly good book, but I’m excited about the integration of this video content, the learning path organization, and the extra practice students can get with Mastering Geology online. For my population, it’s a more perfect fit.
C
Hey Callan,
Great to see you today! I wanted to let you know that I’m still teaching online with Franklin University and we use the Foundations in Earth Science text. Great addition to a great book!
Shelley
Cool. You’re using the 6th edition at this point, right?
Smart figures and a much better Mastering Geology is forcing me to switch from Marshak. Talked about them today in a Mastering event in Chicago. Now the astronomers want it! Excellent work, Callan!
Thanks, Dave!
I just want to say that this is really, really neat, Callan! Perhaps I can have you autograph a copy sometime.
But I’d like to echo what some people say about having a CD option for those with limited/no internet connectivity. Here in South Africa the internet is becoming much better, but it’s still very lacking in the rural areas. And most of Africa has quite poor internet connectivity.
Hello Callen,
I don’t know if you will get this because the last comment here was from 9 years ago. But, I want to say that your videos on Pearson has helped me a lot during my course. You and your videos are honestly better than my professor. Thank you so much.