SOILx, an educational resource for soil types and soil sites, has been awarded a 2014 Platinum MarCom Award in Mobile and Web-Based Technology. SOILx allows learners to take advantage of experiential, hands-on learning at real life field locations, while combining access to virtual content. The award, presented by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, recognizes excellence in marketing and communication materials based on quality, creativity, and resourcefulness.
Update: SOILx has also been awarded a 2015 Platinum AVA Digital Award under the Information Experience category. The award recognizes excellence in digital communication and was presented by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals.
SOILx, which stands for Searchable, Open, Interactive, and Location-Based, is an innovative technology that can be accessed via desktop or mobile device. Users can use SOILx to download information about the soil on a specific site location. Using a GPS-enabled device, users can also find the soil sites. SOILx has an augmented reality interface, which allows users to connect virtual content, such as videos, graphics, and text, to their specific location. SOILx is also open to the public. Users may access the complete database or, if they are working on a new location, they can create a description and submit it to be added to the SOILx database. CTLT’s Chris Crowley, who offered instructional design support on the project, notes the dynamic nature of the tool. “It’s a resource that isn’t static – you can build on it, and you can add content to it.”
The project is a collaboration between a number of individuals and departments. From UBC, the team consists of Dr. Maja Krzic (Faculty of Land and Food Systems/Faculty of Forestry), Chris Crowley (Centre for Teaching, Learning and Technology), Saeed Dyanatkar (Digital Media Technologies), Julie Wilson (Faculty of Land and Food Systems), and Computer Sciences student Nathan Sidles. Other team members include faculty from the University of Saskatchewan, Laurentian University, the University of Northern British Columbia, and Thompson Rivers University.
Saeed, who acted as the digital producer of the tool, pointed out that the team had to work in a relatively unknown area in order to create such an innovative resource. Saeed says that it was important to make the best use of each technology platform, in order to achieve the project requirements, while still keeping the tool user friendly and accessible for the average user. “The challenge was to get these tools to work together for the end user, so that you don’t need to be an expert to use it,” he explains. Through a series of testing, SOILx was eventually built through a combination of Google Fusion Tables, WordPress, and Wikitude.
Saeed credits teamwork for SOILx’s creation and success. “This is one of the best examples of collaboration,” he says, noting that each team member was able to bring their values and perspectives to the process. “We have worked together on projects before, so we have a very good understanding of what each of our areas of expertise is,” Chris adds. “We’re able to build on those areas of expertise and have them compliment each other. For us at CTLT, we understand our role as a support team in helping the faculty bring these ideas to fruition. It’s just been a great team effort from everyone.”
This latest award adds to the steadily growing list of recognition that SOILx has received. The team presented the tool at conferences held by the Canadian Society of Soil Science and Soil Science Society of America, and received positive feedback. SOILx is currently being used in a Sustainable Soil Management course at UBC, and Saeed mentions that other universities are eager to use the resource and create similar tools. In May 2014, SOILx also received an award from the Canadian Network for Innovation in Education for Excellence and Innovation in the Integration of Technology.
SOILx now looks to continue growing and expanding, to reach even more users. “We want to create a sense of awareness for others,” Saeed says, “and we hope that people will use SOILx more often and continue to add to the resource.”
This article was published in the January 2015 CTLT Newsletter, Dialogues. Below is a list of articles included in the issue:
- A Space to Learn: Reshaping the Campus Experience
- Mechanisms to Enhance Teaching in Universities: An Interview with Michael Grove
- SOILx Receives Platinum MarCom Award (currently viewing)
- Uncovering Indigenous Stories at this “Place of Mind”
