From sensorial experience to virtual reality: benchmark of good practices for the mediation and the valorisation of the geological heritage in Europe
Résumé
What are the best practices for children and young people to discover and, above all, enjoy learning about geology? Crawling through a limestone passage like water, climbing a cliff with a virtual reality headset, or traditional teaching methods? All over Europe, Geoparks and geotops develop didactic tools in order for children to renew their interest in the geological sciences. Geological footpaths are now in competition with geological bike trails or georafting. Interactive geological learning experiences often replace traditional presentation of geological collections and newly developed tecnologies are transferring educational approaches from reality experience to virtual reality. An overview of didactic learning practices for children through Geoparks or geosites in Europe will be presented. As a result of many European countries not teaching geology in schools, this give Geoparks and touristic geotops an important educational role with young people. Questions will be raised of the efficiency of these diverse types of practices on geological education. Answers will be presented which require a specific methodology with first results and case studies. Practical limits will be discussed as well as ethical points of view. Tourism approaches cannot be separated from economical criteria, but there is a need to discuss the balance in educational goals which are often restrained by set parameters which obey a different logic.