Teaching Geology using the Internet at
Georgia Perimeter College

Pamela J. W. Gore

Georgia Perimeter College

Georgia Perimeter College

  • Two year college
  • Third largest unit of the University System of Georgia
  • Serving 14,000 students (Fall 1998)
  • 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

Methods of Delivery

  1. Web-enhanced courses

    • 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

  2. Web-enhanced courses offered over a videoconferencing system: GSAMS
    (Georgia Statewide Academic and Medical System)

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

    • Instructor alternates between sites

    • Lab held with instructor on-site

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

  3. Fully online geology courses offered Fall 1998

    • 40 enrolled in lecture
    • 24 enrolled in lab
    • All within 1 hour drive
    • Lab samples on reserve in library or to check out
    • Lab samples also available by mail

    Students can take courses from home or around the world, at their convenience.

    Online courses provide flexible scheduling and the convenience of not having to travel to campus.

    This can be ideal for students who:

    • Travel frequently for work
    • Live far from campus
    • Have family responsibilities
    • Cannot travel physically to campus due to disability or transportation and scheduling difficulties

    WebCT used as course management system

Why offer web-enhanced classes?

  1. Encouraging students to gain proficiency with computer technology

  2. Enhancing student learning by using online course notes and assignments

  3. Using Web resources to provide students with access to:

Additional reasons to offer web-enhanced courses

  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 using e-mail, chat, and bulletin boards

  5. Increasing scheduling possibilities - classes can meet less frequently, or share room alternately with another course

  6. Online quizzes free up class time for instruction; students can take quizzes at a time which best suits them

Development

  • 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 GPC (hardware, software, consultants, release time, internet connectivity)

  • Written in HTML by instructor

  • Original images scanned

Instructional Activities

Return to Georgia Geoscience Online

This page created by Pamela J. W. Gore
Georgia Perimeter College
Clarkston, GA

October 31, 1998