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

9451070 Prothero一个新的Macintosh计算机实验室正在建立专门为我们的低年级介绍地质科学课程。 该实验室提供的两个课程是海洋学概论（GS-4），3个办事处/季度;地质学概论（GS-2），也是3个办事处/季度。 它们满足了学位的“定量科学”要求。 这两门课程中的任何一门都可能是许多学生在大学生涯中接触到的唯一的科学课程。 它们也是我们许多专业的学生受到启发开始地球科学研究的地方，这意味着它们在创造一个知情的选民和保持未来科学家的稳定流动方面都至关重要。 W.正在积极为GS-4和GS-2编制计算机辅助材料。Prothero（和其他地质学教师）与NSF和内部UCSB的资金。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，低年级非专业学生可以使用以前只提供给研究生的分析工具和数据。 我们希望这些课程成为大班教学的有效模式。

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.