Integrating Method and Theory in Introductory Science Through Multimedia Computing

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This project is creating a multimedia computer network with interactive hypermedia courseware that integrates lectures and laboratories in introductory chemistry and geology courses. This courseware complements current laboratory experiences and encourages students to critically study the context and content of their experiments. The project is equipping a multimedia laboratory with eight computer workstations interfaced with videodisc players, networked to a fileserver computer. The project utilizes two additional computer workstations and video recording equipment for courseware development. Using hypermedia authoring software, sets of exercises are being produced which students will use after completion of laboratory experiments. These computer-based exercises feature text, computer graphics, still images captured from live video of laboratory experiments, image sequences from videodiscs, and simulations. In doing these exercises, students are required to interactively solve problems relating to the laboratory. As students work with these exercises they use a hypertext database of information within an expert system context, to logically blend information from lectures and readings with laboratory observations and procedures.NSF grant funds are being matched with funds from non-Federal sources.