Actively Engaging Undergraduates in Geologic Problem Solving by Integrating Petrographic Microscopy and Digital Image Analysis into an Earth Systems Science Curriculum

根据NSF、AGU和Keck财团联合支持的研讨会的建议（NSF, 1996），西俄勒冈大学最近实施了一项基础广泛的综合地球系统科学方法，用于本科生地球科学教育，这在俄勒冈州是一个独特的项目。这种最先进的课程转变的关键目标之一是让地球科学专业的本科生参与到“做科学”的过程中来（美国国家科学基金会，1996）。本课程改进计划的主要目标是在新的地球系统科学课程的背景下，采用并实施一种积极的、基于探究的方法来教授矿物学和岩石学。这种教学模式将地质问题解决与岩石显微学和数字图像分析结合在岩石学入门课程中，作为地球科学专业地球材料研究的基础。利用薄片作为地质数据库，地球科学专业的学生可以熟练地进行观察，识别科学问题，提出可以使用基于计算机的技术进行测试的工作假设，并通过多媒体演示系统和书面报告在全班讨论中捍卫他们的结果。为了实施这种创新的教学模式，岩石显微镜和数码相机与计算机、数字图像分析软件和一套学生岩石显微镜相连接。除了岩石学课程外，该仪器还被广泛应用于基础广泛的本科地球系统科学课程，并被用于旨在向K-12学生和科学教育者展示显微镜和数字图像分析令人兴奋的世界的推广活动。

Geology (42)Using the recommendations from a workshop supported jointly by NSF, AGU, and the Keck Consortium (NSF, 1996), Western Oregon University recently implemented a broad-based, integrated Earth systems science approach to undergraduate geoscience education that is a unique program in the state of Oregon. One of the key objectives of this state-of-the-art curriculum shift is to engage undergraduate Earth Science majors in the process of "doing science" (NSF, 1996). The primary objective of this course improvement project is to adapt and implement an active, inquiry-based approach to teaching mineralogy and petrology within the context of this new Earth systems science curriculum. This pedagogical model integrates geologic problem solving with petrographic microscopy and digital image analysis in an introductory petrology course that serves as the foundation for the study of Earth materials in the Earth Science major. Using thin sections as a geologic database, Earth Science majors become proficient in making observations, identifying scientific problems, proposing working hypotheses that can be tested using computer-based technologies, and defending their results in class-wide discussions via multi-media presentation systems and written reports. To implement this innovative pedagogical model, a petrographic microscope and digital camera are interfaced with a computer, digital image analysis software, and a set of student petrographic microscopes. In addition to the petrology course, this instrumentation is being widely utilized throughout the broad-based, undergraduate Earth systems science curriculum and is being used for outreach activities that are designed to showcase the exciting world of microscopy and digital image analysis to K-12 students and science educators.