Integration of Computing into the Geology Undergraduate Curriculum

将计算融入地质学本科课程

• 批准号: 9650264
• 负责人: Carl Jacobson
• 金额: $ 1.94万
• 依托单位: Iowa State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1996
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1996-06-01 至 1998-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9650264&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Integration; Computing; into; Geology; Undergraduate

This project deals with several items of equipment required to apply computing to a wide range of classroom settings within the undergraduate geology program. There are two main parts of the project. One utilizes the methods of computer-assisted learning, with particular emphasis on the problem of motivating non-science-majors in large, introductory service courses. This aspect includes computerized lecture presentations that students can later review on-line, along with related materials such as glossaries, study guides, and old exams. Even more important is the interactive component that includes self-grading practice quizzes, computer exercises geared at promoting interpretation of geological observations as opposed to memorization, and class discussions on the Internet. Similar computer-assisted learning methods are also being applied to courses designed for geology majors. A second major aspect of the project involves providing majors with extensive training in computer applications similar to those they will use as professional geologists. For this accomplishment, a required course, Computer Methods in Geology, has already been instituted to cover computer basics (DOS, Windows, UNIX, e-mail, and the Internet) and several applications programs. Applications include spreadsheets and computer mapping using AutoCAD and several AutoCAD add-in programs. Most subsequent major courses have extensive lab projects in which these same programs are applied to a variety of geological problems. In addition, students are developing enough general computer expertise that instructors of upper-level major courses are easily able to introduce new, discipline-specific programs, such as for viewing crystal structures or modeling groundwater flow. This work can be disseminated by oral or written presentations of the basic principles of the approach as well as by written lab materials that serve as detailed guidelines for others planning to implement the same methods.

这个项目涉及在本科生地质学课程的广泛课堂环境中应用计算所需的几项设备。该项目包括两个主要部分。一种是利用计算机辅助学习的方法，特别强调在大型入门服务课程中激励非理科专业学生的问题。这方面包括学生以后可以在线复习的计算机化的演讲演示文稿，以及相关材料，如词汇表、学习指南和旧考试。更重要的是互动部分，其中包括自我评分练习测验、旨在促进地质观测解释而不是背诵的计算机练习，以及互联网上的课堂讨论。类似的计算机辅助学习方法也被应用于地质学专业的课程。该项目的第二个主要方面是为专业学生提供计算机应用方面的广泛培训，类似于他们将作为专业地质学家使用的培训。为了实现这一成就，地质学中的计算机方法这门必修课已经开设，涵盖计算机基础知识(DOS、Windows、Unix、电子邮件和互联网)和几个应用程序。应用程序包括使用AUTOCAD和几个AUTOCAD插件程序的电子表格和计算机绘图。大多数后续的主要课程都有广泛的实验项目，在这些项目中，同样的项目适用于各种地质问题。此外，学生们正在培养足够的一般计算机专业知识，以便高级专业课程的教师能够轻松地引入新的、特定于学科的程序，例如用于观察晶体结构或模拟地下水流动的程序。这项工作可以通过口头或书面介绍该方法的基本原则以及作为其他计划实施相同方法的详细指导方针的书面实验室材料来传播。