ERIC Number: EJ1076150
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1941-1766
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Effect of Integrating Hydrologic Scaling Concepts on Students Learning and Decision Making Experiences
Najm, Majdi R. Abou; Mohtar, Rabi H.; Cherkauer, Keith A.; French, Brian F.
Advances in Engineering Education, v2 n1 Spr 2010
Proper understanding of scaling and large-scale hydrologic processes is often not explicitly incorporated in the teaching curriculum. This makes it difficult for students to connect the effect of small scale processes and properties (like soil texture and structure, aggregation, shrinkage, and cracking) on large scale hydrologic responses (like watershed runoff). An instructional module that introduces the concept of process-based scaling, as the framework to connect hydrologic processes and properties at different scales, was developed and evaluated. This paper examines how incorporating the concept of scaling into student curriculum impacts students' learning and decision making capabilities. It presents the evaluation of this module in an undergraduate environmental and natural resources engineering course. Evaluation results supported the hypothesis that introducing the concept of scaling and its application (using computer models) into undergraduate engineering courses enhanced students' learning and decision making skills. Students' levels of confidence in their knowledge of hydrologic systems also increased after the introduction of the scaling concept and following computer modeling exercises.
Descriptors: Scaling, Earth Science, Curriculum Development, Learning, Decision Making, Instructional Effectiveness, Undergraduate Students, Environmental Education, Engineering Education, Natural Resources, Computer Uses in Education, Models, Self Esteem, Self Evaluation (Individuals), Pretests Posttests
American Society for Engineering Education. 1818 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 412-624-6815; Fax: 412-624-1108; Web site: http://advances.asee.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: US Department of Agriculture
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Indiana
Grant or Contract Numbers: 2005-03338
Author Affiliations: N/A