Design Principles and Design Criteria
Design Principle | Design Criteria |
Authenticity and relevance | Learning content is grounded in real-world phenomena from glacier environments. |
Experiments and activities are informed by current research in Alpine and Arctic regions. | |
Multimodality and immersion | The experiments will be made available on a digital learning platform that also enables a glacier experience with the help of 360° images. |
Experiments are available in both physical and virtual formats. | |
Student-centered participation | Content development is guided by students’ prior knowledge and questions. |
Student feedback is systematically used to refine experiments and instructions. | |
Accessibility and adaptability | Materials are usable both on-site (glacier) and in classrooms. |
Interdisciplinary integration | Content integrates concepts from geography, biology, chemistry, and physics. |
Materials are co-developed with experts from multiple academic disciplines. | |
Inquiry-based and reflective learning | Experiments follow fundamental scientific procedures, such as observation, measurement, and analysis. Learning activities encourage reflection on scientific processes and outcomes. |
Key Phenomena
General Topic | Phenomena | Experiment/Content |
Understanding the glacier | Glacier Movement | Model experiment on crevasse formation using kinetic sand |
| Glacier Ice | Observation of ice layers during a visit to the “Ice Palace” |
| Shaping of the landscape by the glacier |
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| Analysis of glacier water | Measuring conductivity of snow, glacier water, and tap water |
Glacier landscapes | Adaptations of alpine plants | Investigation of Saxifraga paniculata and its calcareous glands |
| Karst landscape on Dachstein | Water absorption in karst (limestone) terrain |
| Color variations in rocks | Simple ion detection to analyze rock color differences |
Alpine phenomena | Dark surface layers on ice | Collection and analysis of cryoconite |
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| Albedo measurements using a light meter |
| Edge gap to the Dachstein | Thermal imaging of surface temperature variations |
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| Measuring the albedo with the light meter |
Phenomena that affect me on the mountain | Boiling point at altitude | Comparing the boiling point of water at the glacier and in the valley |
| Pressure changes in a cable car | Measuring air pressure changes with a smartphone |
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| PET bottle experiment demonstrating pressure variation during descent |
Alpine and Polar Research | Acid mine drainage |
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| Heavy metal contamination in meltwater |
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Future Lab | Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) | Glaciers as CO2-Sink |
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| CCS through chemical weathering processes |
