Understanding a bedload-dominated stream through spreadsheet modeling
The purpose of this lab exercise is to teach students to "think like a stream" by integrating modeling with field data to understand the nature of adjustments in bedload-dominated fluvial systems through the study of a piedmont alluvial stream and its deposits. This is a computer-based lab activity ...
Winter Field Lab: Snow Hydrology
This field activity may be implemented during late winter or early spring when things have not quite thawed. Students collect their own data from a snowpack, including measuring water equivalent, identifying types of snow metamorphism, finding evidence of precipitation patterns, and judging possible snowpack hazards. Back in the lab, students evaluate their data, draw conclusions, and make a report. This activity is designed for upper-level undergraduate and graduate-level geohydrology courses.
Determining Dinosaur Speeds
This exercise has students determine how fast a dinosaur was moving based on the tracks it made. It allows students with minimal quantitative background to become motivated and begin to develop an appreciation for dimensional analysis as they see whether or not they could outrun the track-making dinosaurs. Measurements from any dinosaur track site can be used in this activity. Learning goals, context for use, teaching tips, materials, assessment tips and related resources are provided.
GEOLogic: Dinosaur Trackways
This in-class or homework exercise asks students to associate different dinosaur trackways with their geographic locations and rock formation names based on clues given from various points of view. Learning goals, context for use, teaching tips, materials, assessment tips and related resources are provided.
GEOLogic: State Fossils
GEOLogic questions are puzzles that were developed to support students understanding of geoscience concepts while challenging them to develop better logic and problem solving skills. In this exercise, students are asked to identify states with their state fossil and the year in which it was declared, based on clues given from various points of view. Learning goals, context for use, teaching tips, materials, assessment tips and related resources are provided.
GEOLogic: The Big Five Mass Extinctions
GEOLogic questions are puzzles that were developed to support students understanding of geoscience concepts while challenging them to develop better logic and problem solving skills. In this exercise, students are asked to match up the five largest mass extinction events with their relative dates, approximate duration, and severity (percentage of species that became extinct) based on clues given from various perspectives. This activity is appropriate for a high school science class or an introdu
GEOLogic: The Three Stooges and Their Pet Dinosaurs
GEOLogic questions are puzzles that were developed to support students understanding of geoscience concepts while challenging them to develop better logic and problem solving skills. In this exercise, students are asked to match up each of the Stooges with their favorite group and species of dinosaur based on clues given about which order and group each Stooge prefers. This activity is appropriate for a high school science class or an introductory level undergraduate geoscience course, and can b
Offshore Wind Farm Design
This course makes students familiar with the design of offshore wind farms in general and focuses on the foundation design in particular. The course is based on actual cases of real offshore wind farms that have been built recently or will be built in the near future.
System Identification and Parameter Estimation
This course is about non-parametric system identification based on estimators of spectral densities and its application to open-loop and closed-loop systems. Furthermore parameter estimation for linear and non-linear systems plays an important role.
Communication Systems Projects with LabVIEW
Communication Systems Projects with LabVIEW features ten project activities in digital communication systems based on the LabVIEW graphical dataflow programming platform. Each project includes introductory material in the form of text and narrated screencast videos, specifications for low-level subVI building blocks, and step-by-step instructions to assemble application VIs to implement a variety of simulations, visualizations, and working transmitters and receivers. This textbook organizes the
Mouse Experiment
This Flash based applet simulates data from a case study of treatments for tumor growth in mice. This simulation allows the user to place mice into a control and treatment groups.
Star Library: Random Rendezvous
This activity leads students to appreciate the usefulness of simulations for approximating probabilities. It also provides them with experience calculating probabilities based on geometric arguments and using the bivariate normal distribution. We have used it in courses in probability and mathematical ...
Simulation of the t-distribution
The t-distribution activity is a student-based in-class activity to illustrate the conceptual reason for the t-distribution. Students use TI-83/84 calculators to conduct a simulation of random samples.
Instructors Notes for the t-distribution activity
The t-distribution activity is a student-based in-class activity to illustrate the conceptual reason for the t-distribution. Students use TI-83/84 calculators to conduct a simulation of random samples.
Climate Challenge Game
Climate Challenge is a single-player game about climate change, playable for free on the BBC website. It is a sandbox-style strategy game based on real climate change data, where the player can try out different approaches, learn about the issues and have fun at the same time.
Simulated Laboratories and Lessons in Microbiology and Biochemistry
This chapter provides the background and selected applications of computer based investigative biology, biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology modules. These simulations can be used as a part of lecture, pre-lab work or as laboratory exercises.
Using Computer-Interfaced Physiological Measurement Systems in the Biology Laboratory
Students in General Biology perform two different laboratory exercises using computer-based physiological measurement systems to record data from student subjects. Using equipment from Intelitool, students measure resting and post-exercise ECGs, noting relative changes in each portion of the tracing. Then in a second exercise students measure lung volumes and capacities in resting and post-exercise subjects. Forced expiratory volumes (F.E.V.) for 1, 2, and 3 seconds are also measured. Notes for
Using Handheld Wireless Computers to Increase Interactivity and Collaborative Learning in Large Clas
We conducted a pilot study to determine the effectiveness of wireless, handheld computers in fostering active and collaborative learning in lecture-based teaching. We compared the capabilities of the largest type of handheld, the Jornada 820, to that of the smallest, a Handspring Visor "personal digital assistant." This article describes our use of the handhelds in a variety of classroom exercises, emphasizing wireless internet access. We explain our successes, problems, and proposed solutions.
Were Dinosaurs Cold- or Warm-Blooded?: An Exercise in Scientific Inference
Both metabolic rates and brain masses are approximately 10 times as great in modern terrestrial warm-blooded animals (birds and mammals) as in cold-blooded terrestrial animals (reptiles) of the same body mass. This is one of several lines of evidence scientists have used to infer the mode of thermal regulation of dinosaurs and other extinct amniotes. In this exercise each student is assigned one of a number of dinosaurs. Students estimate brain mass from a drawing of a cranial endocast and body
Celebrates Louis Armstrong
You can teach your students about jazz and Armstrong's contribution to music without having to create a lesson plan. These standards-based lessons are informative, fun, and ready for you to use in the classroom.
