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

该项目正在改进最近推出的一门名为“科学与我们的全球遗产I和II”的跨学科两学期课程的教学方法，这门课程是该学院所有大二学生的必修课。在之前的课程中，该系仅限于进行物理、化学、生物、环境科学和社会学方面的实验，由于需要大量的数据分析和真实世界的建模，这些实验通常很难以有意义的方式推断到全球舞台。随着计算机进入实验室，学生可以通过实施模拟和复杂建模，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，计算机的引入促进了数据分析和数学曲线拟合的快速，准确的图形化表示。该项目的目标包括：(1)允许学生快速管理和操作数据，以便他们能够专注于科学概念的发现过程；(2)允许学生研究如何将实验室研究的主题应用于研究全球关注的问题；(3)提高学生小组研究应用科学过程解决社会问题的能力；(4)制作光碟，以辅助科学部分的教学，并促进课程材料的传播。本系为三个实验室各配备八台多媒体电脑，供学生小组互动使用，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CD刻写设备，以便制作CD只读存储器，并提供了三台带有投影设备的笔记本电脑，供实验室教员使用。*

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. *