Daniel G. Brown DUE 9551118 Michigan State University FY1995 $ 44,600 East Lansing, MI 48824 ILI - IP Geography Title: A Digital Terain Analysis Component for Extending and Integrating a Geography Curriculum This project expands and further integrates the undergraduate curriculum in geography through the addition of a digital terrain analysis initiative. The expansion, made possible through a redesign of the curriculum, occurs through demonstrations and carefully structured laboratory exercises in introductory and intermediate courses in physical geography and geographical methods and through a new course, Digital Terrain Analysis, which will integrate these two areas at the advanced level. The course provides experimentation and project work using the new capabilities afforded by the new equipment and software. By addressing the curriculum at all levels and in two emphasis areas, the project will provide for a coherent and integrated understanding of new material on the part of the students. Additionally, the project will enhance the experience and knowledge of students who are training to be teachers and should give them the background they need to take thee condepts of diigital terrain analysis into schools. The project involves the purchase of a Unix-based server and four Unix-based workstations, with software from ERDAS, Inc., and Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), for the efficient provision of advanced capabilities in terrain data interpretation, collection, management, and visualization. An additional PC-based workstation will be set up to demonstrate lower cost software (from R-WEL, Inc., Golden Software, and the Idrisi Project) to teachers-in-training so that they might be encouraged to use the software in their own classrooms. The effectiveness of the project in expanding the knowledge and skills of the students will be evaluated through supplemental course evaluations and focus groups, the results of which will be presented to colleagues in professional organizations.
