GeoPad: Information Technology for Field-based Education

地质学（42）信息技术的最新创新和地理信息系统软件的进步使人们能够在实地实时获取数据收集、分析和可视化。 GeoPad项目涉及一台可实地使用的平板电脑，配备无线网络、GPS接收器、数码相机、语音识别和GIS软件。 在成功研究探索GeoPad的潜在好处之后，该项目正在将GeoPad的使用完全纳入实地课程和高年级本科地质学课程。 GeoPad技术和综合课程内容正在通过为学生提供强大的数据可视化、分析和解释工具来提高空间推理技能;通过提供支持地质观测互动讨论的补充信息来丰富实地考察经验;通过支持实时、分布式、协作式数据收集和分析，加强实地演练，使学生能够解释数据和观察作为一个现场实验展开。 通过确定和测试一个强大的实地调查平台，GeoPad项目及其成果正在对地球科学以外的其他领域或地图学科产生影响。

Geology (42) Recent innovations in information technology and advancements in Geographic Information System software enable in-the-field, real-time access to data collection, analysis and visualization. The GeoPad project involves a field-durable TabletPC equipped with wireless networking, GPS receiver, digital camera, voice-recognition and GIS software. Following a successful study exploring the potential benefits of GeoPad, this project is fully integrating the use of GeoPads into field courses and upper-level undergraduate geology courses. GeoPad technology and integrated curriculum content are enhancing spatial reasoning skills by affording students powerful data visualization, analysis and interpretation tools; enriching field trip experiences by providing access to supplemental information in support of interactive discussions of geologic observations; and enhancing field-based exercises by supporting real-time, distributed, collaborative data collection and analysis, enabling students to interpret data and observations as a field experiment unfolds. Through identifying and testing a robust platform for field investigations, the GeoPad project and its results are having impacts beyond the geosciences into other field- or map based disciplines.