Enhancing Environmental Education through Digital Earth Technologies and Applications

Abstract

This article explores the potential of integrating Digital Earth (DE) concepts into environmental studies, drawing on case studies from students in the environmental master's program at Yerevan State University. The course introduced students to DE principles and their application in environmental studies, with a curriculum centered on the Project252: “Digitally Connecting Real and Virtual Environments” (DEvision) project’s five learning modules: Digital Earth Basics, Geospatial Models and Representations, Geovisualization and Geocommunication, Remote Sensing and Image Analysis, and Spatial Analysis. These modules, developed as Open Educational Resources (OER), offer rich opportunities for cross-disciplinary engagement. By equipping students with practical skills and insights, the DEvision project bridges the gap between physical and virtual worlds in scientific research. This paper highlights the practical applications of DE in environmental studies and provides recommendations to enhance knowledge dissemination and interdisciplinary learning among students.