A Computer Laboratory to Support General Education Oceanography and Earth Science Courses

9451070 Prothero一个新的麦金塔计算机实验室正在专门为我们较低级别的地质学入门课程而设立。这个实验室提供的两门课程是海洋学概论(GS-4)，每季度服务300人；普通地质学(GS-2)，也服务于每季度300人。他们符合该学位的“量化科学”要求。这两门课都可能是许多学生在大学生涯中接触到的唯一一门理科课程。它们也是我们许多专业开始研究地球科学的灵感来源，这意味着它们对于培养有见识的选民和保持未来科学家的稳定流动至关重要。W.Prothero(和其他地质系)正在积极开发GS-4和GS-2的计算机辅助材料，美国国家科学基金会和UCSB内部都提供了资金。我们的目标是通过使用“动手”学习工具，为每个学生提供令人兴奋和充满活力的学习体验。我们正在创建数据丰富的学习模块，鼓励学生探索和学习或重新发现基本原理或想法。在这些课程中，较低级别的非专业学生可以接触到以前只有研究生才能使用的分析工具和数据。我们期望这些课程成为大班环境下有效教学的典范。

9451070 Prothero A new Macintosh computer laboratory is being set up specifically for our lower division introductory geological science courses. The two courses this laboratory is serving are Introduction to oceanography (GS-4), serving 3OO/qtr, and General Geology (GS-2), also serving 3OO/qtr. They satisfy a "quantitative science" requirement for the degree. Either of these may be the only science course many students are exposed to in their college career. They are also where many of our majors are inspired to begin the study of the earth sciences, which means they are of vital importance both in creating an informed electorate and in maintaining a steady stream of future scientists. The development of computer assisted material for both GS-4 and GS-2 is being actively pursued by W. Prothero (and other Geology faculty) with both NSF and internal UCSB funding. Our goal is to provide each student with an exciting and dynamic learning experience through the use of "hands-on" learning tools. We are creating data rich learning modules that encourage the student to explore and learn or re-discover fundamental principles or ideas. In these courses, lower division non-majors have access to analysis tools and data that have previously been available only to graduate students. We expect these courses to become models of effective teaching in large class settings.