GeoLabs

Authors: Jeter DeLaCruz, Sean Tvelia, David Garcia

SUNY Campus: Suffolk County Community College

Presentation Type: Poster

Location: Old Union Hall

Presentation #: 41

Timeslot: Session C 1:45-2:45 PM

Abstract: This project addresses the critical need for modernizing outdated educational technology in geology education at universities. By transitioning from legacy PHP to a React-based platform with Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and Vercel, we aim to solve the fundamental question: How can digital geology labs be transformed into interactive, accessible learning environments that enhance student engagement and instructor oversight? Our research process involves evaluating user experience requirements through stakeholder interviews, implementing modern web technologies, and assessing SOC2-compliant data management utilizing Supabase. Throughout this development journey, we are actively acquiring expertise in these cutting-edge technologies through a combination of structured online courses, collaborative pair programming sessions, and iterative prototyping. This learning approach has enabled us to overcome technical challenges while gaining valuable insights into full-stack development practices, state management patterns, and secure API integration. The platform expands beyond simple content delivery to create a comprehensive learning ecosystem where instructors can create classes, assign customized labs, and track student progress in real-time. Initial findings indicate significant improvements in user interface accessibility and data management capabilities. This work represents an important contribution to STEM education technology by demonstrating how thoughtful application of modern web frameworks can transform specialized educational tools while maintaining security compliance and pedagogical effectiveness, while simultaneously showcasing the effectiveness of project-based learning for acquiring technical proficiency.