The process and challenges of using open source and AI software to modernise OzSoils

OzSoils is an open learning, interactive multimedia program designed to enhance the teaching of fundamental soil science to undergraduate university students. The program was first developed by the University of New England (UNE) in 1996 and released on a CD-ROM. In 2014 the program was migrated to a website delivery model where it was available until 2019.

After 2019, many of the visual outputs (e.g. animations) that were developed with multimedia software programs (e.g. Macromedia Director) started to malfunction as technical support was phased out. In 2021, browsers and operating systems phased out support for Adobe Flash (SWF) content entirely, therefore the program functionality of OzSoils v1.0 – 3.1 ended and its use in teaching.

In the subsequent years, those students not supported by OzSoils in learning about soil were observed by teaching staff to be less proficient in their understanding about soil science terminology and fundamental concepts than previous cohorts who were supported by OzSoils. A decline in student competency in fundamental soil science concepts was particularly evident during the COVID period (2020-2021) when face-to-face practical sessions were not possible to reinforce the fundamental knowledge. It became evident that OzSoils provided an important way to scaffold student learning and embed concepts in a visual way, that could be repeatedly viewed and thus allow students to self-pace their learning and revision. Hence, in late 2023, the UNE soil science academics and the Digital Education team embarked on updating to OzSoils v4.0 with the aim of having it available for use by students in mid-2024. This presentation will detail the process and challenges of transforming OzSoils from a CD-ROM package to a website site using free and open source software for content management (Publii), text migration (Object Character Recognition), visual enhancements (ChatGPT) and 3D graphics (Blender).