Case Study: Utrecht University enhances fieldwork learning with SURF-supported feedback app

Feedback app fieldwork piques students' curiosity

Utrecht University faced a challenge in its earth sciences program where a shortage of lecturers with a field geology background, combined with an increase in student numbers, was compromising the quality of essential fieldwork education. The university partnered with SURF, securing a grant from its Open and Online Education Incentive Scheme, to develop a technological solution.

With support from SURF, Utrecht University developed "The Utrecht companion to the earth," an app that acts as a digital fieldbook and guide for students. The app allows students to position themselves on maps without cellular service and access location-specific information, which offloads supervision tasks from the lecturer. While the app's functionality is complete, content is still being added, with plans to deploy it for the first time in the current academic year and to share the open-source technology with other universities.

Utrecht University

João Trabucho Alexandre

Associate Professor