DISCOVER OUR EARTH: A DISCOVERY-BASED LEARNING TOOL

Discover Our Earth is a fully web-based teaching system. In developement since 2000, Discover Our Earth contains a variety of mapping and information extraction tools and virtual experiments for teachers and students. It is accompanied by curricular materials designed to help teachers determine data sets of interest and consists of four components: the first is a Java applet, the QUEST (Quick Use Earth Study Tool) mapping and analysis tool. The applet provides access to spatially referenced data sets, selected for their wide applicability in the study of the solid Earth system. Through combination and spatial overlay of these data--and ancillary data provided as background images--students are encouraged to construct their own understanding of Earth's processes. The second and third components are a Teacher's Guide and student pages which provide brief overviews of the topics, and guidance to both teachers and students in how to use the QUEST tool most effectively. The final component of Discover Our Earth is a series of interactive experiments designed to support the QUEST tool.

Now in its second phase, Discover Our Earth is adding several new data sets as well as new functionality to the system. These changes are based on formative evaluation data collected in the classroom. As new tools and functionalities are made available, formative evaluation will continue as a means to improve the value of Discover Our Earth as a discovery-based learning tool.