A procedure to structure multidisciplinary educational fieldworks for understanding spatio-temporal evolution of the Alpine landscape

Irene Maria Bollati (1), Beatrice Crosa Lenz (2) & Enrico Zanoletti (3)
(1) Universita degli Studi di Milano, Earth Science Department "A. Desio"; Società di Scienze Naturali del Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. (2) Società di Scienze Naturali del Verbano-CusioOssola. (3) Geoexplora - Geologia & Outdoor; Società di Scienze Naturali del Verbano-Cusio-Ossola. Corresponding author e-mail: irene.bollati@unimi.it

Reading the physical landscape is a key-point in acquiring knowledge in Physical geography and Geomorphology, becoming aware of the complex relations these disciplines have with human settlements, natural resources and ecosystems. Structuring proper educational fieldworks addressed to students for answering simple scientific questions, is strategic. Many single landforms offer good opportunities for fieldwork and educational approaches to understand physical landscape evolution. Among these, polygenic debris cones due to water, gravity and snow action, are common features in the mountain landscape. The most representative ones along a touristic thematic trail in the Loana Valley (Western Italian Alps) were selected for developing new educational approaches. Different testing phases were, then, set to refine the educational strategy. The results allowed to design a procedure for structuring educational fieldwork opportunities addressed to students, in the specific, of the secondary school of second level.

Earth Sciences education, Geomorphological mapping, Dendrogeomorphology, Polygenic debris fans, Alpine landscape evolution.