“…These modifications to course delivery to promote more active learning include electronic response systems to promote formative assessment (McConnell et al, 2006), improve class attendance and students' performance on exams, and attitudes toward learning science (Greer & Heaney, 2004;Pun, 2010;Novak, 2011). Other changes that improve student performance and understanding of geology at the introductory level include using short story narratives (Vanderlinden, 2007)], performing critical reading exercises and analyzing student-derived concept maps (Mattietti, Peters, & Verardo, 2009;Berry, 2013) examining forms of visualizations to improve spatial reasoning (2 or 3 dimensional images, or web-based or physical models) (Durbin, 2002;Johnson & Reynolds, 2005;Del Costello & Cooke, 2008;McNeal, Spry, Mitra, & Tipton, 2014), using Google Earth and Virtual Reality (VR) to provide meaning and relevance of local and regional geology (Monet & Greene, 2012), and giving collaborative and multi-stage exams (Eaton, 2009;Knierim, Turner, & Davis, 2015). These opportunities provide the opportunity for students to become more engaged in class, their work, and their own ideas and values.…”