Improving Instruction in Geochemistry Using Project-Based Learning and Modern Analytical Techniques.

汉普郡学院、阿尔弗雷德大学和罗格斯大学的NSF资助项目的成功证明了在本科教学中使用复杂的仪器在接近具有挑战性或开放式问题的真正科学研究的任务中的有效性。先进仪器是现代地球化学研究的重要组成部分。该项目将使用新的分析仪器，主要是电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱仪和离子色谱(IC)，以实现对地球化学教与学的变革。使用类似的NSF资助的设备已经成功地应用于东爱达荷州技术学院、米诺特州立大学、加州州立大学富勒顿分校和休斯顿大学的课程教学。在马萨诸塞州大学，我们调整了我们的电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱仪和离子色谱(IC)仪器，在地球科学课程课程中的地球化学教学中实施基于项目的学习。这些变化包括：1)将环境调查和分析作为入门地质学的实验室练习；2)使用入门地球化学的短期调查，为学生提供分析技术体验；3)重新设计地球化学(水和环境地球化学；沉积地球化学)高级课程，专注于涉及研究设计、实施和分析的大型学期项目；4)在本科生荣誉计划和独立项目中使用先进的分析技术；5)在与水文地质学和环境地质学相关的课程中增加地球化学成分。这些适应还有一个额外的好处，那就是更好地为本科地球科学专业学生在环境行业就业或培养他们的研究职业技能做好准备。

The effectiveness of using complex instrumentation in undergraduate teaching in tasks approaching real scientific research with challenging or open-ended problems has been demonstrated by the success of NSF-funded projects at Hampshire College, Alfred University, and Rutgers University. Advanced instrumentation is an integral part of modern geochemistry. and this project will use new analytical instrumentation, principally ICP-AES and ion chromatography (IC) to implement changes in the teaching and learning of geochemistry. The use of similar NSF-funded equipment has been successfully applied to teaching courses at Eastern Idaho Technical College; Minot State University; California State University, Fullerton; and the University of Houston. At the University of Massachusetts we have adapted our ICP-AES and ion chromatography (IC) instrumentation to implement project-based learning in the teaching and learning of geochemistry in courses in the Geosciences curriculum. The changes effected include: 1) incorporating environmental investigation and analysis as a laboratory exercise in introductory geology; 2) using short investigations in introductory geochemistry to give students experience in analytical techniques; 3) re-designing upper-level courses in geochemistry (Aqueous and Environmental Geochemistry; Sedimentary Geochemistry) to focus on large, semester-long projects involving research design, implementation and analysis; 4) using of advanced analytical techniques in undergraduate honors programs and independent projects; and 5) adding a geochemical component to projects in courses concerned with hydrogeology and environmental geology. These adaptations have the added benefit of better preparing undergraduate geoscience majors for employment in the environmental industry or for developing their skills for research careers.