Enhancing Scientific Literacy Through the Use of Information Technology in Introductory Geoscience Classes

Abstract

As technology exerts an ever greater influence in our daily lives, the importance of a sound and contemporary understanding of science becomes critical. Introductory geology classes have traditionally focused on potential majors and in doing so have fallen short in helping all students develop a common understanding of basic concepts and how they integrate with those of other disciplines. In restructuring our own introductory classes around a multi-disciplinary approach based on specific and relevant thematic topics, we have concentrated on providing a level of closure so that the non-major students learn concepts, gain knowledge, and concentrate their energies on the ongoing processes that shape our planet. We have used constructivist methods in the course and feel that they are particularly well suited to topics such as earthquakes and volcanoes for which a number of exciting and stimulating Internet resources are currently available on the World-Wide Web. Advances in information technology allow students to observe and visualize phenomena in real-time, to retrieve and manipulate data, and to construct meaning and understanding. Curricular flexibility is critically important as it permits classes to respond to current and ongoing events in a timely and efficient fashion.