ACROSS THE MILES: USING THE INTERNET TO CONDUCT CROSS-COLLEGE STUDENT INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN INTRODUCTORY GEOSCIENCE CLASSES

Classes from three colleges participated in a cooperative learning environment using Calibrated Peer Review (CPR™). CPR is a web-based technical writing and critical thinking instructional tool (http://cpr.molsci.ucla.edu) developed under an NSF systemic reform initiative in Chemistry (DUE 95-55-605) at UCLA.

In CPR assignments, students submit short essays to the CPR server at UCLA. Their evaluation skills are calibrated through a series of rubrics and sample essays. Their overall evaluation is based on the results of calibrations, review of peer essays, and review of their own essay. CPR follows the model of scientific writing: anonymous peer review. CPR also makes it possible to assess critical thinking and technical writing skills without requiring additional grading resources.

Our project involved two assignments designed for introductory geoscience classes. One evaluated the role geologists play in society and the second explored major geological principles. By pooling classes, we accomplished many goals: we accommodated very large and very small class sizes; we added anonymity to the review process; and students interacted from different backgrounds and locations smoothly and effectively.

Previously observed problems with academic dishonesty and collusion in peer review exercises having few students are mitigated. The peer review process achieves real anonymity when students are aware that several schools are participating in the assignment, and the instructors strengthen the matrix by participating anonymously. The three participating colleges are very different in character and the make-up of their student bodies: UTB is a moderate sized university (~ 10,000 students) with a large Hispanic population, many students are the first in their family to attend college; Blinn College is a large junior college (~ 14,000 students) with most students (many of whom are remedial in reading, writing or math) planning on transferring to large Texas universities; and Marietta College is a small, (~ 1100 students) private, liberal arts college with students mainly from educated families in the east and midwest. By blending classes from these colleges we provide a cross-cultural experience. The student-to-student exchange of written commentary and feedback on the style and content of their writing would otherwise be impossible without the use of the Internet.