Geoparks and international students exchanges: a window of opportunity

Partnerships between the Rokua (Finland) and the Sesia-Val Grande (Italy) Geoparks started an exchange program for Secondary School’s students. A cooperative learning process is offered: the Italian students guide their buddies in using an application suitable for mobiles (smartphone and tablet) that allows to track the trip and to gather georeferenced geological data and photographs. These data are later downloadable on PCs in a Google Earth format for a post-field trip processing and discussion after visiting facilities and interpretation centers of the Geopark. The activity is a part of a University research project that aims to understand how the use of virtual tours and digital tools aids and stimulates in the geological interpretation of an unknown territory. The exchange project underlines the relevance of the educational and cultural values of the Geoparks. Geoparks are the appropriate places for testing and practicing innovative educational strategies, shareable in an international context. The visit of the Sesia-Val Grande Geopark during 2014 is described in the abstract. During scholastic year 2014/2015, the Italian students will be hosted by the Finnish families.