Community

The following are links to sites that are developing innovative, interactive instructional materials.

• Causal and Statistical Reasoning "The Carnegie Mellon Curriculum on Causal and Statistical Reasoning (CSR) concerns causal claims and the scientific process by which they are established, particularly where it involves the use of statistical evidence. All students, for example, should be able to critically assess a newspaper report of a study that "links" the amount of violence watched on TV with anti-social behavior. Although most colleges and universities offer introductory courses in statistical or research methods, these courses give little in the way of a qualitative framework within which students can reason about causal claims of this sort, claims which must inform our medical and social policies. " (Quoted from http://www.cmu.edu/CSR/)
• Rice Virtual Lab in Statistics Contains a number of useful public domain applets for demonstrating complex concepts in statistics.
• The Mind Project: "In a sentence, The Mind Project is "a student-faculty, research and curriculum project in the cognitive and learning sciences". Simply, it is a collaboration between students, teachers and expert researchers interested in learning together about the the mind and brain -- this includes both human and non-human minds, both biological and mechanical brains. This is a project exploring the mysteries of "Minds, Computers, Brains and Robots" -- among other things." (quoted from http://www.mind.ilstu.edu/overview/)
• Virtual ChemLab Another FIPSE grantee, the Virtual ChemLab allows students to perform chemistry experiments in a virtual laboratory. While scripted experiments and assignments can be provided, students can also work in an open-ended manner, free to create their own novel investigative strategies. Labs include inorganic, organic, titrations, gases, quantum and calorimetry.
• The Virtual Cell Another FIPSE grantee, the virtual cell is a fly-through VRML MUD that supports and encourages interactive investigative learning. You enter and fly through a cell in a submarine, where you can conduct experiments on inter-cellular structures. While in the cell, you can interact with other students from your class.
• The Geology Explorer Another FIPSE grantee, the Geology explorer is another VRML-based virtual environment that supports and encourages investigation. In this case, you are a geologist who lands on a planet called 'Oit' with the charge of discovering the geological structure. While on Oit, you can interact with other members of your class.
• Quantum Concepts in Chemistry Quoted from the Quantum Concepts Web site: "Our objective is to find new ways to introduce quantum concepts into undergraduate chemistry education. We are seeking to do this through the development of interactive computer tools coupled with curriculum designed to support students' conceptual growth. We are experimenting with different ways of delivering our materials to students through group exercises, scaffolded computer activities, and associated experiments." Includes the 'Schrödinger Shooter,' and 'Quantum Explorer'.