Web-based Interactive Learning Modules to Facilitate Watershed/Environmental Science Education

工业发展、城市化和人口增长继续给环境和自然资源系统带来越来越大的压力。需要在环境科学学科（如水文学、流域管理、土壤和水质）方面受过培训的工程师和科学家来解决涉及地球水、能源和生物地球化学循环之间相互联系的关键环境问题，以及这些循环与人类活动之间的相互关系。这个概念验证项目的目的是创建、开发、评估和传播以学生为中心、以探究为基础的在线学习模块，让学生对地球和环境科学学科进行有意义的探索，重点是流域。该项目满足了国家对本科生环境科学和工程方面以探究为基础的教学/学习材料的要求，这些材料适用于各种教学方法和学习方式。在学习模块中，有以学习者为中心的交互式材料（如课堂讲稿），基于java的模拟和三维可视化工具，美国五大流域的数字数据库，解决问题的练习，以及与流域和环境管理相关的案例研究。这些组件是根据先进的科学建模和可视化能力创建和调整的，这些能力利用了快速发展的桌面计算能力以及互联网和万维网。学习模块被安置在一个主动的学习环境中，一个服务器端软件基础设施，以支持本地和远程教育机会，并促进学生之间的协作学习。在线学习环境和学习模块强调主动/小组学习，基于探究的流域和环境问题的建构主义学习，以及流域管理的跨学科性质。根据这一项目的概念证明情况，目前正在编制7个学习单元，以便对流域科学、流域工程和流域管理方面的重要专题提供最先进的处理方法。每个学习模块(1)都是基于网络的，易于访问，并且跨越了传统的学科界限；(2)适用于地球与环境科学入门课程；(3)强化科学方法论；(4)交互性、直观性和探究性；(5)独立且垂直扩展，便于教师实施；(6)在既定的环境科学与工程内容标准框架内，提高学生的时空和定量推理能力；(7)旨在提高学生对流域科学和环境相关问题的认识和理解。预计直接受众为每年约500名在爱荷华州立大学（ISU）学习地球科学、生物、生态和环境科学课程的学生，以及将参与实施计划的其他机构课程的额外约700名学生。长期读者是环境和地球科学课程的学生，包括流域科学主题，以及环境保护署和农业部等资源管理机构的成人学习者。预期的成果将包括一个学习环境和一套学习模块，以满足国家对流域教育和培训的需求。评估利用标准工具进行形成性和总结性评估，并结合教育准则评估学生的学习成果。除了为国际滑联的不同学生群体实施和评估一个原型环境和学习模块外，该项目还在为四个国家和国际机构制定实施和评估框架。项目成果的传播将由其他地方和国家机构的教员参加咨询委员会来完成；在讲习班和国家会议上发表论文；为感兴趣的教员的电子讨论建立一个互联网存储库；并在教育期刊、通讯和CD（或DVD）-ROM媒体上发表。

Earth Systems Science (40) Industrial development, urbanization, and population growth continue to put increased strain on environmental and natural resource systems. Engineers and scientists trained in environmental science disciplines such as hydrology, watershed management, and soil and water quality are needed to address critical environmental issues that involveinterconnections between the Earth's water, energy, and biogeochemical cycles, as well as the interrelationship between these cycles and human activities. The purpose of this proof-of-concept project is to create, develop, evaluate, and disseminate student-centered and inquiry-based online learning modules that involve students in meaningful explorations in earth and environmental science disciplines, with a focus on watersheds. The project addresses the national call for inquiry-based instructional/learning materials in environmental science and engineering at the undergraduate level that are adaptable to a variety of instructional approaches and learning modalities. Within the learning modules, there are interactive learner-centered materials (e.g., lecture notes), Java-based simulation and three-dimensional visualization tools, a digital data library for five major U.S. watersheds, problem-solving exercises, and case studies related to watersheds and environmental management. These components are being created and adapted from advanced scientific modeling and visualization capabilities that utilize rapidly evolving desktop computing capabilities and the Internet and World Wide Web. The learning modules are housed within an active learning environment, a server-side software infrastructure, to support local and distance educational opportunities and to promote collaborative learning among students. The online learning environment and learning modules emphasize active/group learning, inquiry-based constructivist learning on issues related to watersheds and the environment, and the interdisciplinary nature of watershed management. In accordance with the proof-of-concept status of this project, seven learning modules are being developed to provide state-of-the-science treatment of important topics in watershed science, watershed engineering, and watershed management. Each learning module (1) is Web-based, easily accessible, and cross traditional discipline boundaries; (2) is appropriate for introductory earth and environmental science courses; (3) reinforces scientific methodology; (4) is interactive, intuitive, and inquiry-based; (5) is self-contained and vertically scalable for easy implementation by faculty; (6) aims to increase students' spatiotemporal and quantitative reasoning skills within the framework of already established environmental science and engineering content standards; and (7) aims to increase student awareness and understanding of watershed science and issues related to the environment. The expected immediate audience is approximately 500 students per year in several geoscience, biological, ecological, and environmental science courses at Iowa State University (ISU), plus an additional estimated 700 students in classes at other institutions that will be involved in the implementation plan. The long-term audience is students in environmental and earth science courses that include watershed science topics and adult learners at resource management agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture. The expected outcome will include a learning environment and set of learning modules that address national demands for watershed education and training. The evaluation utilizes standard tools for formative and summative evaluation in conjunction with educational rubrics for assessing students' learning outcomes. In addition to implementing and evaluating a prototype environment and learning modules to a diverse population of ISU students, the project is developing the framework for implementation and evaluation at four national and international institutions. Dissemination of the products of the project will be accomplished by involvement of faculty from other local and national institutions on an advisory board; presentation of papers at workshops and national conferences; creation of an Internet repository for the electronic discussions of interested faculty; and publication in educational journals, newsletters, and CD (or DVD)-ROM media.