The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 21, 2003, Page 2, Image 2
Software allows virtual dissection
BY NICOLE JOHNSON
THE GAMECOCK
Learning today.is only a point
and click away.
Software developer • Tony
McLawhorn at USC’s Center for
Science and Math Education has
proved this with the development
of his latest Interadtiyefteaching
software that lets students dissect
digital earthworms.
“I designed this software to
help students at the university
and in K-12 because I recognized
the need for kids to understand
the internal and external anato
my of the animal. The software
provides an alternative learning
tool to dissecting the animal in
labs,” McLawhorn said.
With about a year in the
works, McLawhorn was the key
creator of this software but said
input and feedback from teach
ers, faculty members and local
schools has helped in design.
A prototype was sent to many
“It’s going to be a
positive thing for
teachers and students
in South Carolina public
schools.”
TONY MCLAWHORN
SOFTWARE DEVELOPER FOR USC'S CENTER OF
SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
S.C. schools, including Lexington
Richland District 5, to test it on
students, and McLawhorn was
able to work with teachers to see
what was important to have on
the software.
The finished earthworm-dis
section software was unveiled at
the S.C. Science Council in North
Charleston from Nov. 12 to 14.
The software was funded by a
gift from the Wachovia
Foundation, which McLawhorn
used to buy the equipment to take
pictures andyideos.
McLawhorn also plans to cre
ate dissection software for the
frog, starfish, squid and rat. He
said he thinks this technology
will help the consciences of stu
dents who detest dissecting and
give them access to dissection
outside of the lab.
In addition to the interactive
dissection, students can also
take virtual quizzes on the ma
terial to enhance the learning
experience.
McLawhom found that learn
ing from a VHS tape is an “ineffi
cient use of media” because of
poor picture and sound quality,
but the point and click interac
tion is effective. “And a little bit
of music makes it interesting,”
he said.
Third-year international stud
ies student Julian Malasi agreed
and said he likes interactive
learning. “It is a fun and easy way
to learn the material, and it is
convenient. I just popped in the
CD and clicked,” Malasi said.
Though technology has its ups,
some students prefer traditional
teaching techniques.
McLawhorn said the earth
worm software is getting a great
deal of publicity from local media.
“It’s going to be a positive
thing for teachers and students
in South Carolina public
schools,” he said, adding he has
plans to make the earthworm
software, along with all the oth
er software he creates, accessi
ble at the Thomas Cooper
Library and by password on the
Internet.
“The software gives real access
to how things really look like.
People don’t realize the earth
worm even has a brain,”
McLawhorn said.
Other software in the works in
cludes Geo World, a 3-D math pro
gram, and a virtual tour of the
Congaree National Park. All will
be distributed for free in S.C. pub
lic schools.
Comments on this story?E-mail
gamecockudesk@hotmail.com
BRIEFLY
USC student named
Rhodes finalist
Amanda Marshall, a stu
dent from Plainview, Texas,
has been selected as a South
Carolina nominee in the
Rhodes Scholarship competi
tion. Marshall will travel to
Washington, D.C., to partici
pate in the distriqt interview
today and Saturday. Finalists
from Kentucky, Maryland, the
District of Columbia, North
Carolina, South Carolina and
Virginia will be competing in
this final round of the Rhodes
competition.
The Rhodes Scholarships,
the oldest of the international
study awards available to
American students, were cre
ated in 1902 by the will of
British philanthropist Cecil
Rhodes.
In her undergraduate ca
reer, Marshall took the un
conventional path to premedi
cal preparation as a Spanish
student.
POLICE REPORT
5
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3
»
I
These reports are taken directly from the USC Police Department.
Compiled by Alexis Stratton.
Each number on
the map stands
for a crime
corresponding
with numbered
descriptions in
the list below.
DAY CRIMES
(6 a.m.-6 p.m.)
□ Victafeg
©NonvisWnt ‘
NIGHT CRIMES
(6 p.m.-6a.m.)
■ Violent
% Nonviolent
CRIMES AT
UNKNOWN
HOURS
□ Violent
© Nonviolent
Tuesday, Nov. 18
O INDECENT EXPOSURE, SOUTH
CIRCLE LOT, 1520 DEVINE ST. A
person who wished to remain
anonymous called to provide
information about an incident.
Reporting officer: J.L. Merrill.
® GRAND LARCENY OF LCD
PROJECTOR, ARNOLD SCHOOL
OF PUBLIC HEALTH, 800
SUMTER ST. The complainant
said an LCD projector and a Dell
laptop computer were removed
from Room 220A. The
complainant said the storage
room was secured but that there
was no sign of forced entry. Total
estimated value: $6,085.
Reporting officer: D. Pardue.
o DRIVING UNDER
SUSPENSION (FOURTH),
VIOLATION HABITUAL OFFENDER,
SUMTER AND BLOSSOM
STREETS Reporting officers M.L.
Gooding and T. Brewster saw
Kevin Foster driving a vehicle
with tags that were suspended,
according to DMV files. The
officers made a traffic stop aryl a
DMV file showed Foster’s
driving privilege was suspended.
Foster had three prior
convictions for driving under
suspension within the past five
years, and he was declared a
habitual offender on Feb. 6,2003,
through Feb. 6,2008. Foster was
arrested.
Wednesday, Nov. 19
O ILLEGAL USE OF PHONE
(THREATENING), WADE
HAMPTON RESIDENCE HALL,
1528 GREENE ST. The victim
said a male called her twice and
that the second time, he
threatened to physically harm
the victim. The victim gave a
statement about the incident.
Reporting officer: J.M. Simmons.
Q SUSPICIOUS FIRE, BLOSSOM
STREET GARAGE, SOUTHWEST
STAIRWELL BETWEEN LEVELS 4
AND 5,1300 BLOSSOM ST.
While on routine patrol,
reporting officer T. Brewster
saw a small fire in a stairwell at
the above location. He put out
the fire and said he saw no
damage.
I Tired of Dorm Life...
■ *StudyArea ■
• • Lounge Area 794-2948 *
• •Multistation __. , . 100 Riverbend Drive «
• Computer Lab ‘Tennis Courts West Columbia «
| •Swimming Pools
■ *Fax& Modem ■
Station linked to
• use Campus •State-of-the-art •
Fitness Center
£ *1-4 Bedroom ]
| Apartments i
I /
H
* A* ‘ _