Pamela J. W. Gore
Georgia Perimeter College
(formerly DeKalb College)
What is Georgia Geoscience Online?
- Technology-supported, freshman-level geology course sequence
- Course notes on WWW
- Taught in distance learning (GSAMS) room
- Two year college
- Third largest unit of the University System of Georgia
- Serving 15,500 students
- Large minority enrollment (43% in Fall 1997)
- Largest international student population in GA
- Multicampus institution with five locations in eastern metro Atlanta:
- Dunwoody Campus
- Clarkston Campus
- Decatur Campus
- Lawrenceville Campus
- Rockdale Center
Learning Objectives
The primary objectives of the project include:
- Enhancing student learning in Geology by using online course notes, assignments, and quizzes
- Using Web resources to provide students with access to:
- The most current information in the geosciences
- Museum specimens
- Virtual field trips
- Demonstrations of laboratory specimens
- Encouraging students to gain proficiency with computer technology
- Delivering Geoscience instruction via distance learning (GSAMS and online)
Secondary objectives include:
- Getting students to preview course material before coming to lecture
- Assisting international students, at-risk students, and disabled students with note-taking
- Getting students to listen and think in class by removing the necessity of writing down every word
- Enhancing communication outside of class
Technology Integration
- Web-based course notes projected in class
- Students access course materials electronically
- Web-based research assignments
- Students prepare web pages
- Communication by phone and e-mail
- Distance learning in GSAMS classroom
- Funded by grants from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, Connecting Teachers and Technology Initiative, Course Development Program
and Course Adoption Program.
Basic Organization
- Classes held simultaneously on two campuses using GSAMS interactive video
- Instructor alternates between sites
- Lab held with instructor on-site
- Assignments and directions given by e-mail and web page
Class Routine
- Demonstrate geologic specimens and textbook illustrations using ELMO visual presenter
- Course notes presented using Netscape
- Lecture notes and diagrams
- Images of field and lab specimens
- Virtual field trips to museums and remote locations
Outside of class
- Students print out course notes from Web before class
- Helpful for:
- Non-native speakers of English
- Disabled students
- At-risk students
- Students who are absent or lose their notes
- More listening and thinking, less frantic writing in class
- Students access external web sites to do increasingly complex assignments
- Read and answer questions
- Gather data for interpretation
- Analyze and interpret data
- Perform web search to research a topic
- Producing a multimedia project in HTML as final project
Outcomes
- Detailed, illustrated course notes available online for Physical and Historical Geology
- Original images of geologic features in the field, lab, and various museums
- Class assignments use online resources
- Quizzes available online
- Links to related web sites
- Student projects available online
Spring 1997
Winter 1997
Fall 1996
- Excellent student evaluations
- Site is accessed by faculty and students at other colleges and universities, K-12 teachers and students, and home-schooled students
- Geologic inquiries by e-mail from around the world (Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Hungary, Mexico, Norway, Puerto Rico, South Africa, UK)
- Awarded Earth Science Site of the Week by Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic Division)
- Written up in the Spring 1998 newsletter of Geological Society of Minnesota
- Many requests for images or links to Georgia Geoscience Online web site
- Presentations at local, national, and international meetings
- Publication in Computers and Geosciences
- Recognition of my "efforts in developing state-of-the-art materials for the WWW" by National Science Foundation and American Geological Institute;
invited to participate in project aimed at assessing and disseminating web courseware.
- Received 1998 Regents Teaching Excellence Award
What did the students like?
- Being able to interact with another class
- Notes on the computer
- Getting notes online at home
- Taking tests online from home at own convenience
- Learning to use the Internet
- Learning to write web pages
- Exposure to new and different ways of teaching
- It was unique
- A good introduction to current technology
- The flexibility
"I was able to prepare for the test on my own time, and then take it from the comfortable surroundings of my own home.
The tests were very flexible and could fit into my busy schedule. I never had to stress out about any test in this class because
I could study when I had the time and take the test when I felt comfortable with the material. . . .
One of the best things about the class was its accessability. Everything was available on the World-Wide Web.
Since I use this resource every day of my life, I feel that I could always get information about the class at a moment's notice, or get in
touch with you very quickly and easily through e-mail. . . .
All in all, I think this class was one of the best college courses I have had.
I found it very interesting, not overly stressful, and very "hooked in" to modern technology
(both the internet and the GSAMS). You've exposed a lot of people to some wonderful resources that they will
likely continue to use (the web and e-mail)."
Jon Challen, Physical Geology student, Winter 1998.
Problems
- Many students prefer face to face instruction
- Some students find it hard to speak up in front of the camera with everybody watching
- Some students don't like seeing themselves on TV
- Hard to pay attention with instructor off site
- Talking and noise in classroom at remote site
- Not all students have computer access at home
- Students tend to procrastinate with online tests and flexible deadlines
Next Steps?
- Developing online courses and labs (to be offered beginning Fall 1998)
- Other faculty adopting course materials from Georgia Geoscience Online
- Offering course to additional GSAMS locations
- Guest speakers from GSAMS sites around Georgia, or elsewhere
April 16, 1998
Updated July 13, 1998
Links updated March 29, 2004