A Comprehensive Plan to Improve Mineral Science Instruction Using Project-Based Learning and XRD Analysis

地质学(42)有效地提供科学教育需要学生作为主要研究者的实践研究、实地研究或实验室工作(例如，Kern and Carpenter，1986，NSF，1977，NRC，1999)。地质和地理系在入门课程和高级课程中都采纳了这一概念，并正在调整矿物科学的教与学，将采用X射线衍射物分析的基于项目的学习结合起来。购买Rigaku MiniFlex X射线衍射仪使学生能够调查工业矿物应用，评估矿物危害和矿物结构。环境地质学、矿物学、岩石学与岩石学、经济矿物学、地层学与沉积学专业的学生正在使用X射线衍射仪。此外，该中心还为从事土壤、粘土、细粒岩石和合成材料研究项目的学生提供服务。活动和实验室练习改编自国家科学基金会的几个项目，包括DUE-0087052(圣地亚哥州立大学)、DUE-9950262(马萨诸塞大学)、DUE-9751006(阿尔比昂学院)、DUE-9952667(蒙特克莱尔州立大学)、DUE-9950820(田纳西州立大学)和DUE-9952345(田纳西大学，查塔努加)。该项目的成果正在GSA会议上传播，学生研究项目正在佐治亚州科学院以及区域和国家GSA会议上介绍。正在更新内部出版的环境地质学实验室手册，包括使用X射线衍射仪的新练习。

Geology (42) Effective delivery of science education utilizes hands-on research, field studies, or laboratory work in which the student is the primary investigator (e.g., Kern and Carpenter, 1986, NSF, 1977, NRC, 1999). The Department of Geology and Geography embraces this concept in both introductory and upper-level courses and is restructuring the teaching and learning of mineral science by integrating project-based learning that uses XRD analysis. The purchase of a Rigaku Miniflex XRD system is permitting students to investigate industrial mineral applications and evaluate mineral hazards and construction of minerals. Students enrolled in Environmental Geology, Mineralogy, Petrography and Petrology, Economic Mineralogy, and Stratigraphy and Sedimentation are using the XRD. The XRD is also serving students carrying out research projects that investigate soils, clays, fine-grained rocks, and synthetic materials. Activities and laboratory exercises are being adapted from several NSF projects including DUE-0087052 (San Diego State University), DUE-9950262 (University of Massachusetts), DUE-9751006 (Albion College), DUE-9952667 (Montclair State University), DUE-9950820 (Middle Tennessee State University) and DUE-9952345 (University of Tennessee, Chattanooga). Results of this project are being disseminated at GSA meetings and student research projects are being presented at the Georgia Academy of Sciences and regional and national GSA meetings. An Environmental Geology laboratory manual published in-house is being updated to include new exercises using XRD.