Enhancing Thinking Skills Using Computers in Non-Majors Biology at a Community College

在社区学院的非专业生物学中使用计算机增强思维能力

• 批准号: 9651059
• 负责人: Joseph Russin
• 金额: $ 6.02万
• 依托单位: Lane Community College
• 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: 1996-07-15 至 1998-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9651059&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Enhancing; Thinking; Skills; Using; Computers

The science faculty at this college believe that a basic knowledge of biological concepts and an awareness of the relevance and applicability of these concepts to current social issues is essential for students to make responsible life choices. The goal of this project is to provide students with the tools and activities to help them develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills that will help them achieve this knowledge and awareness. The project utilizes computer-based inquiry-learning activities and computer technology to enhance student learning in several so-called emphasis biology classes for nonmajors. The biology faculty is collaborating with faculty in the University of Oregon's Workshop Biology project to customize existing learning activities and develop new ones for these unique emphasis classes and for the nontraditional student population. The college has not previously had enough equipment to implement these activities effectively. However, the equipment makes it possible to install computers in three classrooms so that students may work collaboratively in a variety of learning activities which foster problem-solving and critical thinking. In addition, a computer resource center with 16 computers is being set up to allow independent use outside of classtime. The project is being evaluated through pre- and post-testing and surveys to determine the degree to which students have developed critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Through dissemination, this project can serve as a model for other schools to develop their own computer-enhanced biology curricula.

在这所大学的科学教师认为，生物学概念的基本知识和这些概念的相关性和适用性，以当前的社会问题的意识是学生做出负责任的生活选择是必不可少的。该项目的目标是为学生提供工具和活动，以帮助他们发展批判性思维，解决问题和决策技能，这将有助于他们实现这一知识和意识。该项目利用计算机为基础的探究学习活动和计算机技术，以提高学生的学习在几个所谓的重点生物类非专业。 生物学系与俄勒冈州大学的生物学讲习班项目的教师合作，定制现有的学习活动，并为这些独特的重点课程和非传统的学生群体开发新的学习活动。 该学院以前没有足够的设备来有效开展这些活动。然而，这些设备使我们能够在三个教室安装计算机，以便学生可以在各种学习活动中协作，培养解决问题和批判性思维。此外，正在建立一个拥有16台计算机的计算机资源中心，以便在上课时间之外独立使用。 该项目正在通过前后测试和调查进行评估，以确定学生发展批判性思维、解决问题和决策技能的程度。通过推广，这一项目可以作为其他学校开发自己的计算机强化生物课程的模式。