Improving Integrated Learning of the Sciences Using a MobileComputer-Interfaced Instrumentation Laboratory

卡顿斯维尔社区学院是当地中学后教育和职业准备的领导者，最近从我们的专业科学咨询委员会了解到，一些技能不足对进入工作场所的学生来说越来越成问题。这些缺陷包括：（1）缺乏或不熟悉适合现场的现有技术和仪器;（2）缺乏将在一种情况下学到的概念应用于解决其他情况下的问题的能力;（3）缺乏处理、评估、操作和报告大量数据的信心;（4）缺乏故障排除和解决问题的信心和技能;（5）缺乏创造力;（6）缺乏与他人沟通的能力，特别是与来自相关但不同工作领域的个人沟通。一个由来自不同科学和数学学科的教师组成的跨学科审查委员会确定，在生物学、化学、环境科学和数学的入门专业和非专业实验室课程方面进行重大改革，将对学生过渡到工作或高等中学后教育的准备产生重大和积极的影响。该项目将建立一个综合的，多学科的科学教育模式，建立在坚实的基础上的数学能力和技术适当的仪器的使用。我们的目标是为生物学、化学、环境科学及数学的两个入门课程，分别发展及推行两项以学生主导及探究为本的扩展多学科实验练习;为四个手提实验室各配备五个Lab Works II电脑界面、手提电脑、感应器及绘图计算器，以供实验练习之用;并将相关的数学计算和应用程序纳入所有实验室活动。

Catonsville Community College, a local leader in post-secondary education as well as career preparation, has recently learned from our professional scientific advisory boards that a number of skill deficiencies are becoming increasingly problematic for students entering the workplace. These deficiencies include: (1) lack or familiarity with current technology and instrumentation appropriate to the worksite; (2) lack of ability to apply concepts learned in one situation to solve problems in others; (3) lack of confidence in handling, evaluating, manipulating, and reporting large pools of data, (4) lack of confidence and skill in troubleshooting and problem solving (5) lack of creativity; and (6) lack of ability to communicate with others, especially with individuals from related but different work areas. An Interdisciplinary Review Committee consisting of faculty from various science and mathematics disciplines determined that significant reform in introductory majors and non-majors laboratory courses in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science and Mathematics would have significant and positive impact on student readiness for transition to work or advanced post-secondary education. This project will establish a model for integrated, multi-disciplinary science education built upon a firm foundation in mathematic competency and the use of technologically-appropriate instrumentation. Our objectives are to develop and implement two expanded multi-disciplinary laboratory exercises for each of two introductory courses in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science and Mathematics which are student-driven and inquiry-based; equip four portable laboratories each with five Lab Works II Computer Interfaces, lap-top computers, sensors, and graphing calculators for use in laboratory exercises; and build pertinent mathematical computations and applications into all laboratory activities.