Development of an Interactive Digital Image Database for Teaching Undergraduate Earth Science Laboratories

小行星9451635 一个互动的，点击，数字图像数据库正在开发中，作为一个补充工具，在地质学的四个核心课程的岩相显微镜：介绍实验室，光学矿物学，火成岩/变质，和沉积岩石学。 该数据库将手标本和薄切片的数字图像与其他技术的相关观察结果、物理和化学过程模型以及构造环境联系起来。 使用数据库作为自学指南的学生通过在特定课程的背景下确定他或她的学习会话的议程而变得有能力，因此是主动的问题解决者，而不是被动的信息接收者。 数据库元结构的中心是“图像数据库”。“它包括一套手标本的数字图像和每种矿物和岩石的薄片，现在形成了4个核心实验室使用的教学收藏。 图像数据库中的每个图像都是多重链接的，并且可以从提供以下选项的对话框中进行选择： 1)相关岩石类型的手标本的其他图像; 2）不同岩石中相同矿物的其他实例;以及3）岩石的其他主要矿物学成分的显微照片的附加图像。 链接是递归的，即一旦从选项（3）中选择了一种矿物，用户就可以探索与之链接的所有图像，进而探索其所有矿物学成分。 文本，如通常用于描述所选矿物或岩石的术语的简要说明，列表化学数据和图形，包括矿物结构或岩石分类图，也与图像相关联。 介绍岩石和矿物的图像数据库，围绕基于地球系统科学和板块构造的概念框架组织，提高了我们的教学效果，让学生在学习过程中更大的控制。 提高我们的学生的计算机素养是一个额外的好处。

9451635 Mattioli An interactive, point-and-click, digital image database is being developed to act as a complementary tool to the petrographic microscope in four core courses in Geology: Introductory Laboratory, Optical Mineralogy, Igneous/Metamorphic, and Sedimentary Petrology. The database links digital images of hand specimens and thin sections with relevant observations from other techniques, models of physical and chemical processes, and tectonic setting. A student using the database as a self-study guide becomes empowered by determining the agenda for his or her learning session within the context of a specific course, and thus is an active problem-solver and not a passive recipient of information. At the center of the database metastructure is the "Image Database." It consists of a set of digital images of hand specimens and thin sections for each of the minerals and rocks, which now form the teaching collection used in the 4 core laboratories. Every image in the Image Database is multiply linked and selectable from a dialog box offering the following options: 1) other images of hand specimens of related rock types; 2) other examples of the same mineral in different rocks; and 3) additional images of photomicrographs of other primary mineralogical constituents of a rock. Links are recursive, i.e. once a mineral is selected from option (3), the user can explore all the images linked to it, and in turn all their mineralogical constituents. Text, such as brief descriptions of terms normally used to describe the selected mineral or rock, tabulated chemical data, and graphics, including mineral structures or rock classification diagrams, also are linked to the images. Introduction of the image database of rocks and minerals organized around a conceptual framework based on Earth System Science and plate tectonics improves our teaching effectiveness by allowing students greater control in the learning process. Increased computer literacy among our students is an additional benefit.