Development and Overview of

Pamela J. W. Gore
Georgia Perimeter College
(formerly DeKalb College)

What is Georgia Geoscience Online?

• Technology-supported Physical and Historical Geology courses

• Course notes on Web

• Taught in distance learning videoconferencing room
  Georgia Statewide Academic and Medical System (GSAMS)

• Beginning Fall 1998, online geology lecture and lab

Georgia Perimeter College

• 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

The primary objectives of the project include:

1. Enhancing student learning in Geology by using online course notes, assignments, and quizzes

2. Using Web resources to provide students with access to:
   • Image databases
     • Aerial photographs and satellite imagery

     • Shaded relief maps

     • Virtual Sand Collection

     • Petrographic images, Simulated petrographic microscope

     • Movies of bedforms and cross-bedding

   • The most current information in the geosciences
     • Real-Time Water Data

     • Earthquakes in Continental US in last 14 days

     • Current World Seismicity

     • Current Volcanic Activity

3. Virtual Earthquake lab

4. Virtual field trips

5. Original photographs of:
   • Museum specimens
     
   • Field localities
     

   • Laboratory specimens
     

     

   ---

6. Encouraging students to gain proficiency with computer technology
   

7. Delivering Geoscience instruction via distance learning (GSAMS and online)
   

Secondary objectives include:

1. Getting students to preview course material before coming to lecture

2. Assisting international students, at-risk students, and disabled students with note-taking
   

3. Getting students to listen and think in class by removing the necessity of writing down every word
   

4. Enhancing communication outside of class

Technology Integration

• Demonstrate geologic specimens, maps, and textbook illustrations using ELMO visual presenter

• Web-based course notes - projected in class and available for students at any time
  • Physical Geology lecture notes

  • Historical Geology lecture notes

  • Physical Geology Online Laboratory materials (in progress)

  • Historical Geology Online Laboratory Manual - New summer 1998

• Students access course materials on the Web

• Online quizzes (Ed Tech Tools)

• Web-based research assignments

• Students prepare web pages - Spring 1998 example

• Communication by phone and e-mail
  (bulletin boards and chat being added for online students)

• Geology classrooms on two campuses connected for simultaneous lecture by GSAMS videoconferencing

• Begun in Summer 1994

• Funded by grants from the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, Connecting Teachers and Technology Initiative
  • Course Development Program (1996-1997)
  • Course Adoption Program (1997-1998)

• Additional support from Georgia Perimeter College (hardware, software, consultants, release time, internet connectivity)

• Written in HTML by Pamela Gore (currently using Homesite)

• Original images scanned using slide/transparency scanner

Basic Organization

• Classes held simultaneously on two different campuses using GSAMS interactive audio-video

• Instructor alternates between sites

• Lab held with instructor on-site

• Assignments and directions given by e-mail and web page

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

1. Detailed, illustrated course notes available online for Physical and Historical Geology

2. Original images of geologic features in the field, lab, and various museums

3. Class assignments use online resources

4. Quizzes available online

5. Links to related web sites

6. Student projects available online

   Spring 1997
   Winter 1997
   Fall 1996

7. Excellent student evaluations

8. Received 1998 Regents Teaching Excellence Award from the State of Georgia
9. Site is accessed by:
   • faculty and students at other colleges and universities
   • K-12 teachers and students
   • home-schooled students
   • general public

10. Geologic inquiries by e-mail from around the world
    (Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Hungary, Mexico, Norway, Puerto Rico, South Africa, UK)

11. Awarded Earth Science Site of the Week by Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic Division)

12. Written up in the Spring 1998 newsletter of Geological Society of Minnesota

13. Many requests for images or links to Georgia Geoscience Online web site

14. Presentations at local, national, and international meetings

15. Publications in Computers and Geosciences and Journal of Geoscience Education

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"

• Students tend to procrastinate with online tests and flexible deadlines
• Not all students have computer access at home

• 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

• 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 and beyond

Visit Georgia Geoscience Online
http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~pgore/gore.htm

August 2, 1998