Integrating Computing with Geometry into an Upper-Level Computer Science Curriculum

将计算与几何整合到高级计算机科学课程中

• 批准号: 0127401
• 负责人: Ching-Kuang Shene
• 金额: $ 29万
• 依托单位: Michigan Technological University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-06-01 至 2005-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0127401&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Integrating; Computing; Geometry; into; Upper

Computer Science (31)Since this world is built around geometric objects, we should not be surprised that many areas in computer science and engineering focus on representing, processing, and modeling geometric objects. These familiar areas include computer graphics, computer-aided design, 3D vision, visualization, robotics, NC machining, molecular modeling, terrain modeling and GIS. However, a typical computer science curriculum has a little or even no discussion about computing with geometry. This project addresses this deficiency in the training of future computer professionals, especially at a time that more and more applications require highly trained programmers with geometric and modeling skills. This project is an extension of a previous very successful proof-of-concept project, Geometric Computing in the Undergraduate Computer Science Curricula. A web-based textbook and a software tool DesignMentor were developed and used worldwide and are highly regarded. The project builds on the lessons learned in this previous project and on the experiences of instructors and users from all over the world. The primary goal of this project is to design and develop a set of comprehensive, elementary, and flexible course materials for teaching topics in computing with geometry that can be used in a dedicated course or across several courses (e.g., computing with geometry, computer graphics, computer-aided design, geometric modeling, and visualization). A secondary goal is to develop tools with which students can experiment and visualize the concepts, geometric algorithms, and skills in an intuitive, non-mathematical, and learning-by-doing way. With a set of well-organized contemporary course materials and pedagogical tools, we expect that students will be familiar with the state-of-the-art of computing in the geometric world, acquire basic knowledge and skills, know how to handle geometric problems in different applications and environments, and be well-prepared to approach geometric applications and their software development with confidence. Moreover, this project may also improve the retention rate of students, especially those geometric-minded students who may not perform well in traditional courses, in computer science. On the other hand, this project may also help students who are weak in visualization and geometry to improve their skills. Most importantly, this project impacts the future by preparing computer scientists, mathematicians, and engineers for professions that need a solid foundation in computing with geometry.

计算机科学（31）由于这个世界是围绕几何对象建立的，我们不应该对计算机科学和工程中的许多领域关注于表示、处理和建模几何对象感到惊讶。这些熟悉的领域包括计算机图形学、计算机辅助设计、3D视觉、可视化、机器人、数控加工、分子建模、地形建模和地理信息系统。然而，典型的计算机科学课程很少甚至没有讨论几何计算。该项目解决了未来计算机专业人员培训中的这一缺陷，特别是在越来越多的应用程序需要具有几何和建模技能的训练有素的程序员的时候。这个项目是之前一个非常成功的概念验证项目“计算机科学本科课程中的几何计算”的延伸。开发了基于网络的教科书和软件工具DesignMentor，并在全球范围内使用，受到高度重视。该项目建立在前一个项目的经验教训以及来自世界各地的教师和用户的经验基础上。该项目的主要目标是设计和开发一套全面、基本和灵活的课程材料，用于几何计算的教学主题，可用于专门的课程或跨几门课程（例如，几何计算、计算机图形学、计算机辅助设计、几何建模和可视化）。第二个目标是开发工具，使学生能够以直观、非数学和边做边学的方式实验和可视化概念、几何算法和技能。通过一套组织良好的现代课程材料和教学工具，我们期望学生熟悉几何世界中最新的计算技术，掌握基本的知识和技能，知道如何在不同的应用和环境中处理几何问题，并为自信地接触几何应用及其软件开发做好准备。此外，这个项目还可以提高学生的保留率，特别是那些在传统课程中表现不佳的几何型学生，在计算机科学方面。另一方面，这个项目也可以帮助那些在可视化和几何方面较弱的学生提高他们的技能。最重要的是，这个项目通过培养计算机科学家、数学家和工程师，为那些需要在几何计算方面打下坚实基础的职业做好准备，从而影响未来。