"Pet Rocks:" Constructivist Laboratory Investigations in Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry

该项目将改善东北伊利诺伊大学地球科学课程中涉及矿物学、岩石学和高温地球化学概念的本科课程的实验室。主要目标是修改选定的实验练习，并纳入扩展的小组项目，这些项目是建构主义的方法，最大限度地利用我们现有的设施。获得这里所要求的岩石准备设备将使我们能够以实际和有效的方式利用我们的X射线衍射仪、原子吸收分光光度计、高温炉和岩相显微镜进行演习。随着本提案中概述的变化，学生将学习关键的矿物学和岩石学概念，因为他们使用各种分析设备进行自己的实验，收集自己的数据，并检查他们选择的样品。

This project will improve the laboratories of those undergraduate courses in Northeastern Illinois University' s Earth Science curriculum that address concepts in mineralogy, petrology, and high temperature geochemistry. The primary objective is to revise selected lab exercises and incorporate extended group projects that are constructivist in approach, making maximal use of our existing facilities. The acquisition of the rock-preparation equipment requested here will make it possible to implement exercises that will utilize our X-ray diffractometer, atomic absorption spectrophotometer, high temperature furnaces, and petrographic microscopes in a practical and efficient manner. With the changes outlined in this proposal, students will learn key mineralogic and petrologic concepts as they use a variety of analytical equipment to conduct their own experiments, gather their own data, and examine samples of their choosing.