A Virtual Exploratorium to Support Inquiry-based Learning in Geoscience Courses

虚拟探索馆或VE（一个万维网和光盘教育资源）满足了全国对地球科学入门调查材料的需求，这些材料适用于各种教学方法。 我们的金字塔框架方法通过对与广泛的地球科学界相关的地球科学现象和过程的科学探索来促进理解，即，火山和板块构造;飓风及其与海洋和陆地的相互作用;以及流体可视化。 我们已经制定了全面的方案，通过关注基本原则，从这些原则建立的积木，并通过使用积木探索的过程来解决这些现象和过程。 在VE中，有以学习者为中心的科学建模和可视化工具，使用这些工具的基于发现的课程元素，一系列相关现象的数据集，以及基本科学概念的虚拟百科全书。这些组件是根据先进的科学建模和可视化功能创建/改编的，这些功能利用了快速发展的桌面计算功能和万维网。更简单的流体模型和可视化正在开发中。VE材料是在地球科学界和国家咨询小组的投入下开发的，该咨询小组具有以下专业知识：1）认知，学习理论和科学教育; 2）高级可视化和数值建模; 3）评估和评估。 材料正在十个机构进行评估，包括四年制、两年制和代表地球科学界的代表性不足的机构。这些材料将继续保持在伊利诺伊大学和PAGE，并将通过我们的网站和CD访问。我们还为寻求将这些工具纳入课程的教师提供支持。PAGE提供了一个在全国范围内分销产品的独特机会。

The Virtual Exploratorium or VE (a World Wide Web and CD ROM-based educational resource) addresses a national call for inquiry-based materials in the geosciences at the introductory survey level adaptable to a variety of instructional approaches. Our Pyramid Framework approach fosters understanding through scientific exploration of geoscience phenomena and processes relevant to the broad geoscience community, i.e., volcanoes and plate-tectonics; and hurricanes and their interactions with oceans and land; and fluid visualizations. We have developed comprehensive scenarios addressing these phenomena and processes through a focus on fundamental principles, building blocks established from these principles, and processes explored through the use of building blocks. Within the VE there are learner-centered scientific modeling and visualization tools, discovery-based curricular elements that use these tools, a series of data sets of relevant phenomena, and a virtual encyclopedia of basic scientific concepts. These components are created/adapted from advanced scientific modeling and visualization capabilities that utilize rapidly evolving desktop computing capabilities and the World Wide Web. Simpler fluid models and visualizations are being developed. VE materials are developed with input from the geoscience community and a national advisory group with expertise that includes: 1) cognition, learning theory, and science education; 2) advanced visualization and numerical modeling; and 3) in evaluation and assessment. Materials are being evaluated at ten institutions including 4-year, 2-year and underrepresented institutions representative of the geoscience community. The materials will continue to be maintained at the University of Illinois and PAGE, and will be accessible through our website and CDs. We also provide support to faculty seeking to incorporate these tools into their courses. PAGE provides a singular opportunity to nationally distribute the products.