DinoMap: Spatial Analysis of Fossil Finds in the Northern Plains

“DinoMap”为蒙大拿州东北部的七年级和八年级数学和科学教师提供了密集的专业发展，该地区包括佩克堡印第安人保留地。该项目的重点是应用地理空间技术，包括全球定位系统（GPS）、地理信息系统（GIS）和遥感，了解北部平原丰富的化石记录，这是一个在该地区具有重大科学、经济和文化意义的课题。在三年的时间里，蒙大拿大学的工作人员将通过一系列的四个冬季研讨会，为60名教师提供古生物学技术嵌入式内容教学。随后，参与的教师在课堂上使用教学材料来演示测量、代数和几何的概念，并介绍科学建模的概念，包括描述、过程、统计和概念模型。教师们还参加了在派克堡古生物学野外研究站为期两周的暑期研习班，在那里他们为学生们开展各种实践学习活动。预计将有大约120名学生参加暑期学院，在那里他们将通过实际使用地理空间技术来巩固课堂上学到的概念，并在此过程中了解关键的地质和生物过程。学生参与真正的古生物学研究，为地理数据库的发展做出贡献，并成为新信息的生产者而不仅仅是消费者。学生们还会遇到使用地理空间技术的专业人士，这些技术与特定的社区和部落问题和关注有关。正在制作一个职业录象系列，重点介绍年轻的地理空间专业人员，特别是妇女和少数民族，以便通过互联网、会议和各种培训方案广泛传播。蒙大拿大学与其合作伙伴探索数字教育公司和派克堡古生物学公司一起，通过在线教育论坛提供持续的技术援助，教学设计支持，学生实习和在线学习活动。

"DinoMap" provides intensive professional development for 7th and 8th grade math and science teachers from northeastern Montana, an area that includes the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. The project focuses on the application of geospatial technologies, including global positioning systems (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing, to understanding the rich fossil record of the Northern Plains, a subject of great scientific, economic and cultural significance in the region. Over three years, University of Montana staff will provide 60 teachers with technology-embedded content instruction in paleontology through a series of four winter workshops. Participating teachers subsequently use the instructional materials in their classrooms to demonstrate concepts of measurement, algebra, and geometry, and to introduce concepts of scientific modeling, including descriptive, process, statistical, and conceptual models. Teachers also participate in a two-week summer institute at the Fort Peck Field Station of Paleontology where they develop various hands-on learning activities for their students. Approximately 120 students are expected to participate in the summer institute, where they will reinforce concepts learned in class through hands-on use of geospatial technologies and, in doing so, learn about key geological and biological processes. Students participate in authentic paleontological research, contributing to the development of a geodatabase, and becoming producers rather than merely consumers of new information. Students also meet professionals who use geospatial technologies that relate to specific community and tribal issues and concerns. A career video series highlighting young geospatial professionals, including women and minorities in particular, is being produced for wide dissemination though the internet, conferences and various training programs. Together with its partners, Explore Digital Education, Inc. and Fort Peck Paleontology, Inc., The University of Montana provides on-going technical assistance, instructional design support, student internships and on-line learning activities through an on-line education forum.