Enhancing Undergraduate Participatory Research in Environmental Science with Field-Based Data Acquisition Equipment

利用现场数据采集设备加强环境科学方面的本科生参与性研究

• 批准号: 9972501
• 负责人: Kenneth Tabbutt
• 金额: $ 1.85万
• 依托单位: Evergreen State College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1999
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1999-09-01 至 2001-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9972501&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Enhancing; Undergraduate; Participatory; Research; Environmental

Teaching the theoretical interrelationships between biological, physical, and chemical systems to undergraduate environmental science students without practical field-based research to demonstrate these connections presents a pedagogic problem in the environmental sciences.This project is using TI Calculator Based Labs (CBL) coupled with hand-held calculators and analog and digital Vernier probes. The memory capacity of the calculators allows up to 10,000 data points to be logged from five probes simultaneously. Although designed for the lab, these data loggers and probes are being used in the field in this project. By deploying a network of data loggers and a variety of probes to collect data in a wide range of environmental parameters (precipitation, potention metric surface elevation, dissolved oxygen, dissolved ions, light intensity, pH, humidity, temperature), extensive data sets can be developed and spatial and temporal changes in conditions can be assessed, interpreted, and modeled by the students. The approach of using a network of data loggers has been incorporated as an integral part of two scheduled interdisciplinary, team-taught academic programs offered during the two-year grant period. Students, ranging from freshmen to seniors, are designing research projects, deploying the data loggers, collecting and assessing the data, and constructing conceptual and computer models which mimic the natural systems. This participatory research is helping the students develop their critical thinking and quantitative skills and leading to a more comprehensive understanding of natural systems. This approach follows the recommendations in Ann McNeal and Charlene D'Avanzo, "Student Active Science, Models of Innovation in College Science Teaching," (Fort Worth, TX: Saunders College Publishing, 1997).

向本科环境科学专业的学生讲授生物、物理和化学系统之间的理论相互关系，而没有实际的实地研究来证明这些联系，这是环境科学中的一个教学问题。该项目使用TI计算器实验室（CBL），结合手持计算器和模拟及数字游标探头。计算器的内存容量允许同时记录来自五个探头的多达10，000个数据点。虽然这些数据记录仪和探头是为实验室设计的，但在本项目中，它们被用于现场。通过部署数据记录器和各种探头网络来收集各种环境参数（降水，电位计表面高程，溶解氧，溶解离子，光照强度，pH值，湿度，温度）的数据，可以开发广泛的数据集，并可以由学生评估，解释和建模条件的空间和时间变化。 使用数据记录器网络的方法已被纳入两个预定的跨学科，团队授课的学术课程在两年的赠款期间提供的一个组成部分。 学生，从大一到大四，正在设计研究项目，部署数据记录器，收集和评估数据，并构建模仿自然系统的概念和计算机模型。这种参与式研究有助于学生发展批判性思维和定量技能，并对自然系统有更全面的了解。 这种方法遵循Ann McNeal和Charlene D'Avanzo的“学生主动科学，大学科学教学创新模式”（沃斯堡，德克萨斯州：桑德斯学院出版社，1997年）中的建议。