Curtin Malaysia academics, graduate and student create geology mobile app to aid student learning

Miri – 22 September 2022 – Three academics, a graduate and a student of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) have created a Miri Geology Mobile App to enhance student learning for geology and engineering students at Curtin Malaysia. The mobile app was launched recently at a Learning and Teaching Seminar held at the campus’ Faculty of Engineering and Science.

The mobile app development project was funded by the Curtin Malaysia Teaching and Innovation Project (CMTIP) and initiated and led by Ir. Dr. Vera Loo, a senior lecturer in Curtin Malaysia’s Department of Civil Engineering, in collaboration with Associate Professor Prasanna Mohan Viswanathan from the Department of Applied Geology and lecturer Foad Motalebi from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Other members of the development team were Curtin Malaysia civil engineering graduate and mobile apps developer Kelvin Ling, and Higher Degree by Research (HDR) student Fianita Anthony, who designed the mobile app’s layout and contributed part of its content.

Ir. Dr. Loo stated that due to the intrinsic complexities of geology, the extensive vocabulary related to geology, and having to acquire an understanding of the geological process in the real world, studying the subject can be quite challenging for students. She related her own experience as a civil engineering student previously, where she was very interested in engineering geology but found remembering the terminology challenging. Subsequently, she found that she learned better by connecting her classroom learning to real-world examples.

Thus, the aim of the mobile app is to enable students to connect their classroom learning to the real world. It supports students’ learning of the basic principles of geology and experiencing geology in a real world, ultimately enhancing and enriching their learning and understanding of geology.

She said the Miri area has plenty of geological features and varieties of sedimentary rocks, fossils and structures, which are featured in the mobile app.

“We hope the mobile app will help our students to appreciate the beauty of these geological features and be motivated to learn about geology. We expect them to be transformed from passive receivers of information to active learners,” said Ir. Dr. Loo.

Dr. Prasanna, who is Head of the Department of Applied Geology, said the mobile app features key locations such as Tanjong Lobang, Bakam, Jalan Tai Foo and Tusan Beach, which are all rich in geological features. At Tanjong Lobang, the rocks are a unique reddish-brown due to their rich iron content and the area around Jalan Tai Foo has interesting sedimentary and biogenic structures, while Bakam is known for its trace fossils and Tusan Beach for its coastal erosional structures.

In addition, the mobile app includes many field photos of sedimentary rocks collected in and around Miri, rock deformations, sedimentary structures and landslides, as well as videos. Google Map locations are given for all the photos, enabling students to find those locations easily.

Foad, meanwhile, stated that though the initial version of the mobile app was developed for Android, users on other platforms can also use it by installing Bluestacks 5 on their devices. Future versions will be developed specifically for other platforms and more sophisticated features incorporated in the app depending on user requests and feedback.

Users can search for ‘Miri Geology’ in the Google Play Store to download the mobile app, or download it at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Curtin.curterramiri.

“In addition to our students, we also hope this mobile app can benefit others interested to know more about the geology in Miri. We welcome feedback from users, who can give their comments using the feedback form in the app,” said Ir. Dr. Loo.

Curtin Malaysia offers Curtin’s 3-year Bachelor of Applied Geology (replacing the 4-year Bachelor of Science in Applied Geology from 2023), which combines a thorough grounding in theoretical, practical and field geology with technical and commercial skills.

At the start of the course, students will build a basic foundation in chemistry, mathematics, GIS, programming, scientific communication and computer skills, and an introduction to geology. In the subsequent years, they will acquire the theoretical, laboratory and field skills required to understand geological processes, and a comprehensive coverage of all applied disciplines of geology, including basin analysis, petroleum geology and environmental geoscience.

For more information on the Bachelor of Applied Geology, go to courses.curtin.edu.my/courses-and-study/undergraduate/engsci/applied-geology/.

Information on Curtin Malaysia can be found on its website at www.curtin.edu.my, or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or Tik-Tok.

Staff and students at the launch of the Miri Geology Mobile App.

Mobile app content includes a wealth of information, maps, illustrations, photos and videos.

Iron concretion at Tanjong Lobang Outcrop.

Curtin Malaysia geology students on field trip to Bakam.