Web-based Interactive Learning Modules to Facilitate Watershed/Environmental Science Education

基于网络的互动学习模块促进流域/环境科学教育

• 批准号: 0089039
• 负责人: Udoyara Tim
• 金额: $ 7.49万
• 依托单位: Iowa State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2001
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2001-04-15 至 2004-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0089039&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Web; based; Interactive; Learning; Modules

Earth Systems Science (40) Industrial development, urbanization, and population growth continue to put increased strain on environmental and natural resource systems. Engineers and scientists trained in environmental science disciplines such as hydrology, watershed management, and soil and water quality are needed to address critical environmental issues that involveinterconnections between the Earth's water, energy, and biogeochemical cycles, as well as the interrelationship between these cycles and human activities. The purpose of this proof-of-concept project is to create, develop, evaluate, and disseminate student-centered and inquiry-based online learning modules that involve students in meaningful explorations in earth and environmental science disciplines, with a focus on watersheds. The project addresses the national call for inquiry-based instructional/learning materials in environmental science and engineering at the undergraduate level that are adaptable to a variety of instructional approaches and learning modalities. Within the learning modules, there are interactive learner-centered materials (e.g., lecture notes), Java-based simulation and three-dimensional visualization tools, a digital data library for five major U.S. watersheds, problem-solving exercises, and case studies related to watersheds and environmental management. These components are being created and adapted from advanced scientific modeling and visualization capabilities that utilize rapidly evolving desktop computing capabilities and the Internet and World Wide Web. The learning modules are housed within an active learning environment, a server-side software infrastructure, to support local and distance educational opportunities and to promote collaborative learning among students. The online learning environment and learning modules emphasize active/group learning, inquiry-based constructivist learning on issues related to watersheds and the environment, and the interdisciplinary nature of watershed management. In accordance with the proof-of-concept status of this project, seven learning modules are being developed to provide state-of-the-science treatment of important topics in watershed science, watershed engineering, and watershed management. Each learning module (1) is Web-based, easily accessible, and cross traditional discipline boundaries; (2) is appropriate for introductory earth and environmental science courses; (3) reinforces scientific methodology; (4) is interactive, intuitive, and inquiry-based; (5) is self-contained and vertically scalable for easy implementation by faculty; (6) aims to increase students' spatiotemporal and quantitative reasoning skills within the framework of already established environmental science and engineering content standards; and (7) aims to increase student awareness and understanding of watershed science and issues related to the environment. The expected immediate audience is approximately 500 students per year in several geoscience, biological, ecological, and environmental science courses at Iowa State University (ISU), plus an additional estimated 700 students in classes at other institutions that will be involved in the implementation plan. The long-term audience is students in environmental and earth science courses that include watershed science topics and adult learners at resource management agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture. The expected outcome will include a learning environment and set of learning modules that address national demands for watershed education and training. The evaluation utilizes standard tools for formative and summative evaluation in conjunction with educational rubrics for assessing students' learning outcomes. In addition to implementing and evaluating a prototype environment and learning modules to a diverse population of ISU students, the project is developing the framework for implementation and evaluation at four national and international institutions. Dissemination of the products of the project will be accomplished by involvement of faculty from other local and national institutions on an advisory board; presentation of papers at workshops and national conferences; creation of an Internet repository for the electronic discussions of interested faculty; and publication in educational journals, newsletters, and CD (or DVD)-ROM media.

地球系统科学(40)工业发展、城市化和人口增长继续给环境和自然资源系统带来更大压力。需要经过水文学、流域管理、土壤和水质量等环境科学学科培训的工程师和科学家来解决关键的环境问题，这些问题涉及地球水、能源和生物地球化学循环之间的相互联系，以及这些循环与人类活动之间的相互关系。这个概念验证项目的目的是创建、开发、评估和传播以学生为中心和基于探究的在线学习模块，让学生参与地球和环境科学学科的有意义的探索，重点是分水岭。该项目针对国家呼吁在本科生一级编写环境科学和工程方面的探究式教学/学习材料，以适应各种教学方法和学习方式。在学习模块中，有以学习者为中心的交互式材料(例如，课堂讲稿)、基于Java的模拟和三维可视化工具、美国五大流域的数字数据库、解决问题的练习以及与流域和环境管理相关的案例研究。这些组件是根据先进的科学建模和可视化功能创建和调整的，这些功能利用了快速发展的桌面计算能力以及互联网和万维网。学习单元放置在活跃的学习环境中，即服务器端软件基础设施，以支持本地和远程教育机会，并促进学生之间的合作学习。在线学习环境和学习单元强调主动/小组学习、关于流域和环境问题的基于探究的建构主义学习以及流域管理的跨学科性质。根据该项目的概念验证情况，正在开发七个学习单元，以提供关于流域科学、流域工程和流域管理方面的重要专题的最新科学研究。每个学习模块(1)基于网络，易于访问，并跨越传统学科界限；(2)适合地球与环境科学入门课程；(3)加强科学方法；(4)互动、直观和基于探究；(5)自给自足，可垂直扩展，便于教师实施；(6)旨在在已建立的环境科学和工程内容标准的框架内，提高学生的时空和定量推理能力；以及(7)旨在提高学生对分水岭科学和与环境相关的问题的认识和理解。预计直接的受众是爱荷华州立大学(ISU)几门地球科学、生物、生态和环境科学课程的每年大约500名学生，外加将参与实施计划的其他机构班级的估计700名学生。长期受众是环境和地球科学课程的学生，其中包括流域科学主题，以及环境保护局和农业部等资源管理机构的成人学习者。预期成果将包括一个学习环境和一套学习单元，以满足各国对分水岭教育和培训的需求。该评估使用形成性和终结性评估的标准工具，并结合教育准则评估学生的学习结果。除了为不同群体的执行支助股学生实施和评价原型环境和学习单元外，该项目还在四个国家和国际机构制定实施和评价框架。该项目成果的传播将通过以下方式实现：让其他地方和国家机构的教员加入咨询委员会；在讲习班和全国会议上发表论文；为感兴趣的教员的电子讨论建立一个因特网储存库；以及在教育期刊、通讯和光盘(或DVD)媒体上发表。