New Approach to Undergraduate Instruction in Structural Geology

这个项目的目标是开发新的教材，从根本上改变向地球科学本科生教授构造地质学的方式。目前的教科书和实验室手册很好地处理了岩石结构的几何描述和分类，但没有有效地将这些材料与基于连续介质力学的结构分析的原理和定量方法结合起来。专门为实现这一整合而设计的新教科书可以用来向其他教育工作者和学生传播该项目的成果。与教科书打包在一起的是一张电脑练习软盘，它代表了一种新的构造地质学教学材料的方法，这些练习与教科书中的章节有关。这些练习是使用Microsoft Excel作为计算和图形的模板设置的，并且与Macintosh和IBM PC兼容。计算机练习将经典构造地质学的地图数据和描述性观测与工程力学的相关数学方法和原理相结合。通过使概念易于理解和分析方法可用，此前仅限于研究生课程或实践专业人员，该项目使本科生更好地为更高的学位和专业生涯做准备。在本课程中学习的语言和方法使地质学家能够与工程师和其他科学家进行有效的沟通，这是下个世纪典型的工业实践中多学科问题解决方法的关键要求。这个项目的目的是提供一个可以在地球科学教育领域中仿效的教学材料的原型。

The objective of this project is to develop new instructional materials that change, fundamentally, how structural geology is taught to undergraduate students in the earth sciences. Current textbooks and laboratory manuals present excellent treatments of the geometric description and classification of rock structures, but do not effectively integrate this material with the principles and quantitative methods of structural analysis based on continuum mechanics. A new textbook, specifically designed to accomplish this integration, can be used to disseminate the project results to other educators and students. Packaged with the textbook, and representing a fresh approach to instructional materials in structural geology, is a floppy disk of computer exercises keyed to chapters in the textbook. The exercises are set up as templates using Microsoft Excel for computation and graphics, and are compatible with both the Macintosh and IBM PC. The computer exercises combine the map data and descriptive observations of classical structural geology with the relevant mathematical methods and principles of engineering mechanics. By making concepts understandable and analysis methods available that heretofore have been restricted to graduate courses or practicing professionals, this project prepares undergraduates better for advanced degrees and professional careers. The language and methods learned in this course prepare geologists to communicate effectively with engineers and other scientists, a key requirement for the multidisciplinary problem solving methods that will typify industrial practices in the next century. This project aims to provide a prototype for instructional materials that can be emulated across the spectrum of earth science education.