VirtualPal: a remote undergraduate invertebrate paleontology practical course using 3D fossils

Paleontology is a natural science discipline based on the observation of fossils. Therefore, paleontology education requires extensive training, and thus significant time, dedicated to observing and describing fossils. In the classroom, teachers often lack sufficient time to showcase the vast majority of key and basic fossil diversity typically encountered in the field. Moreover, students cannot spend enough time in class to properly study each sample. This challenge becomes even more critical in remote learning settings where access to fossils is limited. To address these limitations, we present a remote class dedicated to invertebrate paleontology bachelor’s students, based on a collection of 3D fossils. These models are reconstructed using photogrammetry and hosted online on the Sketchfab web platform. We present a comprehensive Moodle remote course, so-called VirtualPal, that seamlessly integrates instructional videos, interactive 3D fossil models, specific lessons, and formative and summative quizzes. The VirtualPal model can be easily adapted to other observational disciplines such as micropaleontology or petrology but still requires a proper evaluation of its effectiveness using educational science methodologies.