Elijah Johnson, M.S.

Graduate Student

Elijah is an NSF Graduate Research Fellow and a geoscience education researcher investigating the role of spatial thinking in STEM, and how the geosciences can promote and improve spatial learning across disciplines. His research involves using augmented reality (AR) technology and other pedagogical tools to enhance the learning environment of introductory geoscience classrooms. One of these technologies is the AR sandbox, which he has used to create student-informed curricula that effectively teach topographic map skills and train spatial ability concurrently. Another such tool he employs in his research is geologic block models for improving penetrative thinking skills for structural geology tasks. He is also involved in Geohealth research where he is using GIS to map and analyze the spatial distribution of groundwater quality and chronic illness in the Gulf Region.