3.1.4 Educational Goals of The Physical Geology Tutor
Another project examined through this research was the Physical Geology Tutor
(PGT) developed using AthenaMuse software.
The courseware provides a multimedia textbook education and
allows students to build an experience base in engineering geology before moving to
professional practice. In the following passage, Einstein,
the director of the PGT project, describes the way in which the goals of this courseware were
based upon how the computer provided unique educational opportunities that were not as easily
achieved in other more traditional formats:
For students to learn engineering geology effectively, therefore,
experience becomes an integral part of the process, specifically experience gained
through involvement in many different cases. While the examples in the lectures and
the case histories in the reading assignments give the students exposure to cases,
they do not force them to apply their knowledge and build up their own experience base.
In current engineering geologic education, such applications only take place in homework
and tests, but under severe time constraints; most of the building of the geologic
engineer's experience base is done in professional practice. The Engineering Geology Educator
attempts to shift some of this learning process into the university. It allows students
to build their experience bases while still studying. This is accomplished by using
application modules which they can carry with them and expand in advanced graduate
studies or in professional practice. (Einstein, 1991, p. 2-1)
In the PGT project, the computer served a role that was not easily served through
traditional methods.