Integration of a Portable X-ray Fluorescence Instrument into Courses in Social, Natural and PhysicalSciences

跨学科99该项目使用便携式X射线荧光(PXRF)仪器，为考古学、生物学、地球科学和化学的下级和上级课程提供真实的研究活动。将pXRF技术与基于探究的实验室活动相结合，鼓励学生解决现实世界的问题，并让他们参与多学科研究。考古学课程的学生正在从当地和社区的收藏品中寻找黑铁矿文物；生物学专业的学生正在设计和实施研究，以测试高速公路附近针叶林中的氯化镁水平；地球科学专业的学生正在评估人类活动对黄松树的影响；化学专业的学生正在丹佛北部的部分地区进行社区研究，那里的土壤仍然受到旧冶炼厂的污染。此外，该项目还将建立一个由来自四个学科的学生和教职员工组成的学习者社区。这个跨学科项目的具体目标包括1)通过让本科生参与真实的研究来改善他们的课堂学习环境，以及2)让教职员工将真实的pXRF研究项目整合到他们的本科课程中。支持这些目标的活动和一套明确的、可衡量的结果正被用来评估该项目对学生学习的影响。

Interdisciplinary 99This project is using a portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) instrument to provide authentic research activities into lower and upper division courses in archeology, biology, earth sciences and chemistry. Combining PXRF techniques with inquiry-based laboratory activities encourages students to solve real-world problems and engage them in multidisciplinary research. Students in the archaeology courses are geosourcing obsidian artifacts from local and community collections; students in biology are designing and implementing studies to test for magnesium chloride level in conifer forests adjacent to highways; earth science students are evaluating the impact of anthropogenic activities on Ponderosa pine trees; and chemistry students are conducting community-based research in portions of north Denver where soils still remain contaminated by an old smelter. In addition, the project also is establishing a community of learners composed of the students and faculty members from four disciplines. The specific goals of this interdisciplinary project include 1) enhancing the classroom learning environment of undergraduate students by involving them in authentic research, and 2) engaging faculty members in integrating authentic PXRF research projects into their undergraduate courses. Activities that support these goals and a set of clear, measurable outcomes are being used to assess the impact of this project on student learning.