Modernization of Plant Taxonomy Curriculum through Use and Development of Plant Identification Expert Systems

通过使用和开发植物鉴定专家系统实现植物分类学课程的现代化

• 批准号: 9850878
• 负责人: Roger Meicenheimer
• 金额: $ 4.21万
• 依托单位: Miami University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1998
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1998-06-01 至 2000-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9850878&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Modernization; Plant; Taxonomy; Curriculum; through

Modern techniques of plant identification via computer based expert systems can enrich undergraduate students' comprehension of the species concept by exposing them to the total breadth of seasonal morphological variation within plant taxa irrespective of the season in which they conduct their studies and actively engage them in inquiry based study of variation of character states within and between plant taxa as they contribute to the expansion and development of these expert systems. Such richness is lacking from our current pedagogical practices which primarily utilize season specific paper based dichotomous keys for training students in field based plant identification. Dichotomous keys are not conducive to inquiry based study of plant taxa because of the relative difficulty associated with their expansion and modification. The structure of computer based expert systems on the other hand are very conducive to contributions and development by student engaged in inquiry based activities. Specific objectives of this proposal are to: 1. Modernize the plant taxonomy curriculum by replacing paper based dichotomous plant identification keys with CD-ROM based multi-access plant identification expert systems. 2. Enrich the educational experience of students by encouraging them to develop an understanding of the nature of scientific inquiry as it relates to taxonomic decisions as they contribute to the continual refinement and expansion of the plant expert system data bases. 3. Develop students' process skills in the practical nature of hypothesis formulation and testing, with particular emphasis on the statistical techniques used in taxonomy. 4. Develop group learning and group responsibility skills and techniques. 5. Improve instructional effectiveness by engaging undergraduates in the creation and development of expert systems which will require utilization of their newly/simultaneously acquired knowledge and skills of plant taxonomy into a format that is both self reinforcing and beneficial to f uture students and the public at large. 6. Test the effectiveness of this method of learning compared to current pedagogical practices. Preliminary results from the ongoing Miami University Dendrology Expert System pilot project indicate that these objectives can be met by the proposed modification of our plant taxonomy curriculum.

通过基于计算机的专家系统的现代植物鉴定技术可以丰富本科生对物种概念的理解，使他们接触到植物分类群内季节形态变化的总广度，而不管他们在哪个季节进行研究，并积极地让他们参与基于探究的植物分类群内部和之间特征状态变化的研究，因为它们有助于这些专家系统的扩展和发展。我们目前的教学实践缺乏这种丰富性，主要是利用特定季节的基于纸张的二分类键来训练学生进行基于现场的植物识别。二分类键的扩展和修改相对困难，不利于基于查询的植物分类群研究。另一方面，基于计算机的专家系统的结构非常有利于学生从事探究性活动的贡献和发展。本建议的具体目标是：1。现代化植物分类课程，用基于CD-ROM的多访问植物识别专家系统取代基于纸张的二分类植物识别密钥。2. 通过鼓励学生发展对科学探究本质的理解来丰富学生的教育经验，因为它与分类决策有关，因为它们有助于植物专家系统数据库的不断完善和扩展。3. 培养学生在假设制定和检验的实践性质中的过程技能，特别强调分类学中使用的统计技术。4. 培养团队学习和团队责任的技能和技巧。5. 通过让本科生参与专家系统的创建和发展来提高教学效率，这些专家系统将要求他们利用新获得的/同时获得的植物分类学知识和技能，形成一种既自我强化又有利于未来学生和广大公众的形式。6. 与当前的教学实践相比，测试这种学习方法的有效性。正在进行的迈阿密大学树木专家系统试点项目的初步结果表明，这些目标可以通过修改我们的植物分类学课程来实现。