THE USE OF TECHNOLOGIES TO FOSTER ON-LINE LEARNING COMMUNITIES IN THE GEOSCIENCES

Technologies can be used to provide a means to teach and learn about the geosciences where students' critical thinking, skill development, conceptualization of complex Earth systems, and communication of their knowledge in rich learning environments are supported. The Department of Geosciences at Mississippi State University utilizes a broad array of technologies to enhance graduate and undergraduate student learning experiences within on-line environments and offers approximately forty distance learning (DL) courses. The use of WebCT as the communication portal is a critical component of these learning experiences. Discussion boards and chat rooms offer the ability for increased student-student interactions as well as student-instructor interactions and are essential elements to develop on-line communities in our courses. Additionally, two technologies that are particularly utilized in unique and creative ways include streaming video to teach and learn about geographical information systems (GIS) and web development software to provide a means for students to communicate their geoscience knowledge and understanding. In the course, Principles of GIS, streaming video is used to guide students through the formation of skill sets needed to learn about GIS. GIS and other geospatial technologies are one of the fastest growing fields within the geosciences, and GIS skills are becoming essential for geoscience graduates. Presenting GIS course work through DL has traditionally been viewed as being too challenging due to the highly technological and computational format. The use of the most recent video streaming technology coupled with a course management system has allowed us to overcome these obstacles. In the Research Methods course, students display their knowledge of a geoscience concept through the development of web-pages. In order to accomplish this goal, students develop a web-site based on a topic they could research with their students in their local area. This exercise facilitates the learning of web-design, allows the instructor to assess student understanding of learned material in both the content area as well as in the process of doing research, and provides the students in the class a collection of research projects they can incorporate into their classrooms.