IMPROVING PRE-SERVICE TEACHER PREPARATION BY USING COMPUTERS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN INTRODUCTORY GEOLOGY CLASSES

Important objectives of the introductory geology course, Survey of Earth Science, are to introduce students to a wide range of geology topics and help them understand how the earth works. With all of the scientific information available on the Internet, cyberspace can be a functional tool for teachers and their students when properly applied. The faculty at New Mexico Highlands University, with support from the New Mexico Collaborative for Excellence in Teacher Preparation (CETP), has recently implemented Survey of Earth Science laboratory exercises that bring the Earth and global issues into the classroom using the Internet. These newly integrated laboratory exercises utilize data from Internet resources to engage students in scientific inquiry, give practical application of computer technologies, and teach the dynamic nature of earth processes. One exercise in particular that deals with surface water processes introduces students to the USGS stream-gaging program (USGS Circular 1123) and uses real-time Gallinas Creek streamflow data collected from USGS gaging station 08380500 near Montezuma, NM. The exercise promotes hands-on problem solving and the utilization of information technology for discovery-based learning as students become involved in obtaining streamflow data, creating graphical models in Microsoft Excel, interpreting graphical presentations of data, and ultimately transforming information and data into knowledge. As Survey of Earth Science serves over twenty-five education majors each semester, this course reform contributes to the preparation of future teachers by providing hands-on experience in data acquisition, manipulation, and presentation technologies as well as strategies for using information technology in the classroom to enhance student learning.