Instructional Technologies and Their Impact On Soil Science Education.

Instruction Matters: Purdue Academic Course Transformation (IMPACT) and the incorporation of the Integrating Spatial Educational Experiences (Isee) program are two new ways that we have expanded our student-centered approach to facilitating interactive learning for our soil science students.  IMPACT involves the redesign of classes and learning spaces to encourage greater student centered learning and closer tracking of student progress.  Students having difficulty in the course are monitored to determine if their study habits could be impacting their lack of success and immediately offering them additional assistance.  Isee allows anyone anywhere to access information about the soils, landscapes, and natural features of Indiana.  Soil Science is intrinsically spatial. Soils occur in predictable, repeating patterns across landscapes.  Soil maps can make sense of these patterns, yet the spatial aspects of soil science are often taught poorly.  At Purdue University, we are using digital maps for teaching and learning complex spatial concepts of how soils are distributed across landscapes.  Isee allows one to see and understand spatial patterns in the Indiana soil landscape without spending years mapping soils in the field.  These new techniques along with how we use our Soil Resource Center and its multi-media leaning environment to achieve interactive and collaborative learning opportunities for students will be discussed.