KamenCheck: A Holistic and Inclusive Framework for Systems Thinking in Mineral and Rock Education

The KamenCheck (Eng. RockCheck) pedagogical materials offer a holistic framework ready to enrich formal education about minerals and rocks. Our approach integrates three core pillars to create an efficient learning environment. Digital interaction is facilitated by a user-friendly application that increases learner confidence through structured mineral and rock observation and supplemented by post-activity gamified exercises, which provide teachers with immediate feedback. Physical exploration is achieved by using samples in a learning activity that is based on tactile, multi-sensory engagement to conceptualize the material properties and formation processes. Additionally, a strong pedagogical integration was created that provides a systemic framework of global and specific learning goals, learning outcomes, terminology, didactical recommendations, teaching methodology, evaluation, and learning assessment forms, all of which help streamline the teaching process.

Our objectives are to guide pupils through a short but comprehensive learning process that moves from the identification of material properties via observation and experimentation toward a systems understanding of mineral and rock (trans)formation within the Rock Cycle. By utilizing the KamenCheck framework, we aim to achieve higher-order levels of taxonomical knowledge. The methodology involves a 90-minute workshop designed to address one global and seven specific learning objectives. To empirically validate the effectiveness of this approach, a rigorous assessment strategy was employed. This included assessing the attainment of learning goals and observing group dynamics.

The learning pathway “From classroom to learning in nature“ was tested extensively. The learning outcomes systematically outperform the traditional learning and teaching strategies for education about minerals and rocks. Pupils were engaged and a progression of knowledge was achieved. Levels of knowledge (according to Bloom's Taxonomy) reached were raised from basic remembering and understanding to analysis and evaluation levels. The teaching process was effective, mainly relieving the burden on educators, enabling them to focus on pupils. By emphasizing "learning by doing" and "learning by feeling’’, KamenCheck creates an inclusive environment that supports diverse learning styles and removes barriers even for valuable pupil populations. We advocate for a curiosity-driven pedagogy that is deeply connected to the world around us; thus, KamenCheck can be integrated into diverse local environments and connect classrooms with outdoor learning. We can observe that tangible materials used as scaffolding help learners reach conceptual understanding, thus benefiting from digital-physical integration. This can be recognized as one of the main reasons for achieving higher taxonomical levels of knowledge.

In the process of recent national curriculum changes, the KamenCheck framework was integrated into the Slovenian formal educational system. The provided framework can be scaled to offer an EU-wide approach.

 

The creation of KamenCheck materials was funded by National (project StoneKey; project EDUGEO), EU (RM@SCHOOLS3.0 – no. 17146 and RM@SCHOOL 4.0 – no. 20069), and research projects and programs (P1-0195 and P1-0025).