Teaching topography using 3D printed terrain in an introductory earth science course: A pilot study

Abstract

Topographic maps are a common form of 3D surface elevation data represented as a 2D display. Despite their use in geoscience courses, many students find learning to effectively read and interpret these maps challenging. Here, we present a tool for teaching topographic map interpretation using 3D printed terrain. The terrain was 3D printed from a portion of the quadrangle map used in an introductory earth science course for non-science majors. Students placed the ∼12 cm square terrain directly on the corresponding area of the paper topographic map, in order to see the landscape. Student learning was compared between an original version of the topography lab and the same lab with the addition of the 3D printed terrain, using the Modified Topographic Map Assessment (MTMA) administered as a pre- and posttest with each group. As measured by pretest scores on the MTMA, students in the original (n = 54) and 3D print terrain tool (n = 24) groups had comparable incoming topographic map interpretation skills (t(75) = .98, p = .33). Pre- to posttest MTMA scores did not significantly improve in the original lab group (M = 0.63, SD = 3.13, t(53) = 1.48, p = .15) but did in the 3D print terrain group (M = 1.96, SD = 2.97, t(23) = 3.23, p = .004) with a moderate effect size (d = .53). Results of this pilot study suggest that 3D printed terrain shows promise as a teaching tool that could be adapted to multiple uses including K-12 classes and upper division earth science courses.