Improving Integrated Learning of the Sciences Using a MobileComputer-Interfaced Instrumentation Laboratory

Catonsville社区学院是当地高等教育和职业准备方面的领导者，最近从我们的专业科学顾问委员会了解到，一些技能缺陷正在成为学生进入职场的越来越大的问题。这些缺陷包括：(1)缺乏或熟悉适用于工作现场的当前技术和仪器；(2)缺乏将一种情况下学到的概念应用于其他情况的能力；(3)对处理、评估、操作和报告大量数据缺乏信心；(4)对排除问题和解决问题缺乏信心和技能；(5)缺乏创造力；(6)缺乏与他人沟通的能力，特别是与来自相关但不同工作领域的个人。一个由来自不同科学和数学学科的教师组成的跨学科审查委员会确定，对生物学、化学、环境科学和数学的入门专业和非专业实验课程进行重大改革，将对学生准备过渡到工作或高等专上教育产生重大而积极的影响。这个项目将建立一个综合的、多学科的科学教育模式，建立在数学能力和使用技术上适当的仪器的坚实基础上。我们的目标是为生物、化学、环境科学和数学两门入门课程开发和实施两个扩展的多学科实验室练习，这些课程以学生为导向，以探究为基础；为四个便携式实验室配备五个Lab Works II计算机接口、笔记本电脑、传感器和图形计算器，供实验室练习使用；并建立相关的数学计算和应用到所有的实验室活动。

Catonsville Community College, a local leader in post-secondary education as well as career preparation, has recently learned from our professional scientific advisory boards that a number of skill deficiencies are becoming increasingly problematic for students entering the workplace. These deficiencies include: (1) lack or familiarity with current technology and instrumentation appropriate to the worksite; (2) lack of ability to apply concepts learned in one situation to solve problems in others; (3) lack of confidence in handling, evaluating, manipulating, and reporting large pools of data, (4) lack of confidence and skill in troubleshooting and problem solving (5) lack of creativity; and (6) lack of ability to communicate with others, especially with individuals from related but different work areas. An Interdisciplinary Review Committee consisting of faculty from various science and mathematics disciplines determined that significant reform in introductory majors and non-majors laboratory courses in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science and Mathematics would have significant and positive impact on student readiness for transition to work or advanced post-secondary education. This project will establish a model for integrated, multi-disciplinary science education built upon a firm foundation in mathematic competency and the use of technologically-appropriate instrumentation. Our objectives are to develop and implement two expanded multi-disciplinary laboratory exercises for each of two introductory courses in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science and Mathematics which are student-driven and inquiry-based; equip four portable laboratories each with five Lab Works II Computer Interfaces, lap-top computers, sensors, and graphing calculators for use in laboratory exercises; and build pertinent mathematical computations and applications into all laboratory activities.