USING INTERNET RESOURCES IN AN INTRODUCTORY GEOLOGY COURSE

Internet resources have been used in an introductory physical and hist orical geology lecture course at the University of Cincinnati since 19 95. Construction of a Web page has been, and continues to be, an evolu tionary process with trial and error testing based on student performa nce and evaluation. The principal advantages of the Web site seem to b e: the increased access to diverse information sources; decreased amou nt of information-providing, during class time, providing the instruct or with an opportunity to pay more attention to methods of evaluation and analysis; and increased opportunity for student-professor interact ion through e-mail. Preliminary data suggest student attrition rate ha s decreased from a yearly average of 7.5% to 3.3% since the Web site w as introduced. The principal problems center around the lack of comput er skills in some students, reasonable and timely access by students t o adequate computer facilities, and the time commitment required to bu ild and monitor the Web site. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.