Ana Rola1, Elsa Gomes2, Luís Gama Pereira1

& Celeste R. Gomes 1,3

1CGUC, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Coimbra, Portugal2Geosciences Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Coimbra, Portugal3Corresponding Author: romualdo@dct.uc.pt

Objectives:

To construct a virtual field class in the Mountain of

Lousã, Central Portugal

To assess the resources

Activity planned for 11th grade students, to teach

magmatic and metamorphic processes

Document analysis

Field work

Laboratory work; study of collected rocks hand samples;

thin sections analysis using a polarizing microscope

Preparation of schemes and simplified geological maps

Construction of the materials

Validation by secondary education teachers

Reformulation of materials

Nine teachers answered to two open-ended questions:

1) Please, give your opinion about the teaching materials (strong and weak aspects, its importance in teaching, suggestions).

2) Would you use the teaching materials in a geology class? Please, justify.

The answers were subjected to content analysis

Legend

Beiras Group: Caneiro Formation

Beiras Group: Boque-Serpins Formation

Granite of Coentral

Contact metamorphic rocks

Dolerite

Rhyolite porphyry

Probable fault

Fault

N

500 m

Geology of Lousã Geology of Lousã MountainsMountains

Beiras Group

Granite of Coentral

PreparationPreparation of schemes of schemes

Sketch of the tectonic context of the region between Coimbra and Sketch of the tectonic context of the region between Coimbra and Lousã Mountains Lousã Mountains

Satellite image obtained from Google Earth ®Satellite image obtained from Google Earth ®

PreparationPreparation of schemes of schemes

B

A

Contact between hornfels and graniteContact between hornfels and graniteA – Photograph without interpretationA – Photograph without interpretation

B – Photograph with interpretationB – Photograph with interpretation

B

A

PreparationPreparation of schemes of schemes

A B

Simplified geological mapsSimplified geological maps

Geological map of the Coentral regionGeological map of the Coentral regionA - Original geological mapA - Original geological map

B - Simplified geological mapB - Simplified geological map

Preparation phase: video

Field class: field guide

Synthesis phase: discussion topics, paper and pencil activities for the summary phase

Others: glossary, information about lithologies, pictures, simplified geological maps, schemes

Available in an electronic site

Resources constructed to the Resources constructed to the virtual field classvirtual field class

https://sites.google.com/site/louzanrocks/home

Diagram of the electronic siteDiagram of the electronic site

Validation of the resourcesValidation of the resources

The virtual field class consists of three phases: preparation, field class and summary

The methodology involved documental analysis, fieldwork, laboratory work, pictorial representation and geological map simplification

The resources were made available in an electronic site

Nine teachers validated all the resources and agreed to use them in their classes

Department of Earth Sciences, University of Coimbra

CGUC and Geosciences Centre are publicly funded

through FCT - Foundation for Science and

Technology