Computer Enhancement of a Multidisciplinary Laboratory- Centered Course Sequence, Science and Our Global Heritage

这个项目正在改进最近引进的一门跨学科、为期两个学期的课程序列，名为科学与我们的全球遗产I和II，这是该学院所有二年级学生的必修课。在本课程之前，该系仅限于执行物理、化学、生物学、环境科学和社会学的实验，这些实验通常很难以有意义的方式推断到全球舞台，因为执行广泛的数据分析和现实世界建模所需的时间。随着计算机引入实验室，学生可以通过实施模拟和复杂的建模来以一种有意义的方式扩展他们对现实世界全球问题的理解。此外，计算机的引入有助于快速、准确地以图形表示数据，以便进行数据分析和数学曲线拟合。该项目的目标包括：(1)使学生能够迅速管理和操纵数据，以便他们能够专注于科学概念背后的发现过程；(2)使学生能够调查实验室正在研究的主题如何被应用于调查全球关注的问题；(3)提高学生小组调查科学过程对社会问题的应用的能力；以及(4)制作一张光盘，作为科学部分教学的辅助工具，并促进课程材料的传播。该部门正在为三个实验室中的每个实验室配备八台多媒体PC，供小组学生交互使用，以收集、分析、建模和获取有关实验主题的描述性材料。此外，正在安装光盘刻录设备，以方便制作光盘光盘，并提供三台带有投影设备的手提电脑，供实验室教师使用。*

This project is improving the pedagogy of a recently introduced, cross-disciplinary, two-semester course sequence called Science and Our Global Heritage I and II, which is required of all sophomores at the college. Previously in the course, the department has been limited to performing experiments in physics, chemistry, biology, environmental science, and sociology, which are often difficult to extrapolate to the global arena a meaningful way because of the time necessary to perform extensive data analysis and real-world modeling. With the introduction of computers into the laboratory, students can extend their understanding of real-world global problems in a meaningful way by implementing simulations and complex modeling. In addition, the introduction of the computers facilitates quick, accurate graphical presentation of data for data analysis and mathematical curve fitting. The objectives of the project include (1) allowing students to manage and manipulate data quickly so that they can focus on the discovery process underlying scientific concepts; (2) allowing students to investigate how topics being investigated in the laboratory can be applied to investigate global concerns; (3) improving the ability of small groups of students to investigate the application of the science process to the problems of society; and (4) producing a CD ROM as an aid to the teaching of the science component and to facilitate the dissemination of the course material. The department is equipping each of three laboratories with eight multimedia PCs to be used interactively by small student groups for data collection, analysis, modeling, and acquisition of descriptive material regarding the laboratory topic. In addition, CD writing equipment is being installed to facilitate the production of a CD ROM, and three laptops with projection equipment are being provided for laboratory instructors' use. *