The Virtual Field Work Experience is a simulated set of labs, driven by narrative, that generates a deeper understanding of the material and inspires students to pursue a career in the geosciences.

2. The Virtual Field Work Experience is a simulated set
of labs, driven by narrative, that generates a deeper
understanding of the material and inspires students of
all ages to pursue a career in the geosciences.

3. Taking Geology to the next level

4. Taking Geology to the next level
The Virtual Field Work Experience is the hub for an active community of
students and future geologists.
Provides contextually meaningful and personal experiences through active
student engagement.
Creates opportunities to engage students online and offline, with real-world
activities and challenges.
Rewards students for being active participants in the geological community.
Uses narrative to provide strategic, professional context to activities,
themes, and topics.

5. The Virtual Field Work Experience is a simulated set of labs.

6. The Labs
Students personalize their interactions with
instructors.
An online hub acts as the central reporting
and information repository for all labs.
Students engage with a mapping interface
embedded with coordinates
Mapping coordinates lead to content, videos,
images and tools (compass, etc.)
Student activities and assignments are
exported and uploaded to the online hub for
instructor evaluation.

7. The Labs
Brings highly valuable, ‘hard to replicate’
field experiences into the classroom.
Creates a forum for developing higher order
skills (team building, decision making and
communications)
Introduces applied learning in:
• Mapping & Coordinate Systems
• Cross-Section & Profile Generation
• Strike & Dip Measurement
• Rock and Mineral Identification
• Structural Geology
• Geophysics

8. The Virtual Field Work Experience is driven by narrative.

9. The Narrative
Students are placed at the centre of a series of
geological problems.
Students become active course participants by
engaging other students through scripted
challenges and activities.
Students collaborate to problem solve and
complete numerous activities and labs.
Students complete sets of scripted challenges
within the context of a exploration company
seeking an economic deposit.

10. The Virtual Field Work Experience incorporates the real world.

11. The Real World
Students engage in an authentic, professional
experience.
All interactive experiences are representations
of a field geologist.
Real field trips and sampling exercises tie
directly to the virtual narrative and
assignments.
Students are evaluated like real-world
geologists where results are open to
discussion and debate.
Exercises are built upon the premise that
“every rock tells a story.”

12. Project Highlights & Results

13. Project Highlights
Released September 2, 2008.
Created for the introductory geology course at
the University of Calgary.
Engages 200 students across 10 labs.
All interactive modules are web-based
providing direct student access both on and
off campus.
Combination of Flash-based modules and
Basecamp collaboration software (group hub)
Study underway to test traditional lab delivery
(paper exercises) against the Virtual Field Work
Experience.

14. Results
Analytical: provides academically rigorous activities that challenge
students to think like a geoscientist.
Practical: contextualizes the fundamentals of geological exploration both
online and offline.
Cross-Platform: works both online and in conjunction with a traditional
lecture/lab model.
Real World: generates student interest in the geosciences as a career
pursuit.
Valuable: improves knowledge retention and creative thinking by putting
the student at the center of the geological experience.

15. Production Team

16. Watershed Creative
Founded in 2001, Watershed Creative designs and develops custom
interactive learning experiences. By leveraging technology, gaming theory
and multiple learning style strategies, Watershed creates simulations and
games that deliver curriculum and content in a manner that immerses
learners in an authentic professional experience.
Watershed has twice been awarded Digital Alberta and Telefilm Canada
funded residencies at the Banff New Media Institute to develop prototype
concepts for delivering curriculum and content through interactive games.
Clients include University of Calgary, Alberta Environment, Shell Canada,
CGG Veritas, Woods Homes, Outward Bound, Canadian Institute of Natural
and Integrative Medicine and the Bow River Basin Council. Ongoing project
collaborations exist with Hotrocket, Emerge Learning and Xpan Interactive.

17. Watershed Creative
Peter Gammell
Principal
With formal education in fine arts, forestry and geology, Peter has
demonstrated his versatility in a variety of successful executive,
management and entrepreneurial roles since 1992. These roles have
spanned environmental services, geomatics engineering, human resources
and knowledge management.
Since early 2007, after successfully negotiating the sale of the division he
managed for an international oil and gas services business, Peter has
directed his diverse capabilities toward his passion of designing virtual,
immersive learning experiences.

18. Hotrocket
Founded in 2001, Hotrocket is an independent production company for
original multiplatform creative intellectual properties held in partnership
between Ken Bautista and Jason Suriano.
Interactive services division acquired by RED The Agency in 2008, one of
Western Canada's fastest growing independent marketing agencies. Clients
include Edmonton Oilers, West Edmonton, OK Tire, and Canadian Western
Bank.
Combined team now includes 20 full-time professionals located in
Vancouver and Edmonton.
Advisory team includes Howard Donaldson (SVP Studio Operations, Disney
Interactive and former CFO, Electronic Arts Canada), Kenton Low (Former
EVP, Vivendi Universal, SVP, Walt Disney Internet Group, and CEO of
Robeez), and Ed Dille (CEO, FOG Studios)

19. Hotrocket
Ken Bautista
CEO & Creative Director
Founding partner and creative director of Hotrocket with 8 years
experience in interactive industry. Named one of Edmonton's quot;30 Under
30quot;. Appointed to board/chair positions with Digital Alberta, Alberta Film
Advisory Council, Canadian Interactive Alliance, and nextMEDIA Advisory
Committee. Graduated with B.Ed. in Elementary Education (Instructional
Technology) at the University of Alberta.
Jason Suriano
President & Executive Producer
Partner in Hotrocket, with 6 years experience in industry, specifically
production and production management. Former executive director of
Alberta ICT Council. Graduated with BA, MA in Humanities Computing at
the University of Alberta.

20. Hotrocket & RED The Agency
PROFIT HOT 50 Emerging
Most Promising Digital
Growth Companies, Top 100
Media Company in Canada
Women Business Owners
(2006)
Alberta Venture Fastest
Best of Show, Fusion Digital
Growing Companies
Media Venture Forum (2008)
(2005-2008)
Out of 20 presenting companies selected by
venture capital and angel investors.
Winner, Pitch It! (2007) ACE Awards, Advertising
Among 4 international finalists selected Club of Edmonton
to pitch to Nickelodeon, Disney and
(2002-2007)
Cartoon Network.
TELUS Innovation Fund
Recipient (2006) Applied Arts Annual,
1 of 2 companies in Canada selected Applied Arts Magazine
for innovation in entertainment and
(2007)
digital content.

21. Peter Gammell Jason Suriano
Principal Principal & President
peter@watershedcreative.ca jason@hotrocket.ca
403 870 8119 780 994 4237
www.watershedcreative.ca www.hotrocket.ca