CS092 - The Watershed Project

Overview The Background The Technology The Content The Presentation

Project Goals What is a watershed? How is a watershed formed? What happens to a watershed over time?

Project Description Designed for college-level geology students Intended for stand-alone use outside of class to reinforce and expand concepts A modular package incorporating high- level concepts, mathematically accurate modeling, and multimedia content FOR MORE INFO...

The Technology

CD-ROM based Director 7 Application –greatest flexibility in multimedia presentation Interactive, screen-based “modules” 2-D + 3-D animation, Video, Sound Directed linear flow with optional branching

The Technology System Requirements PC –Pentium-class; 16 MB RAM; 800x600, 16-bit display; Sound Card Mac –PowerPC-class; 16 MB RAM; 800x600, 16-bit display; Sound

The Technology Strengths –Allows students to visualize complex multi-variable systems –Provides greater interaction with models to enhance comprehension –More entertaining, stimulating excitement and long-term retention –More cohesive and better organized than traditional text offerings

The Technology Weaknesses –Textbooks provide a great deal more raw information –Not an effective substitute for classroom-based expert instruction –High entry costs

The Content

Content Overview 3 “Modules” Each module presents a single idea Modules ask a question to be answered Modules progress from basic introduction to a computer presentation and end with user interaction

Module 1 Concept –How water is partitioned amongst the components of a watershed Question –What happens to a drop of rain when it hits the ground? Key Concepts –Hydrology, Water Cycle, partitioning, infiltration, storage, water table

Module 1 Introduction to basic concepts of hydrology and watersheds Primarily a presentation of facts with little interaction The simplest of all 3 modules

Module 2 Concept –Defining and delineating a watershed Question –How does a raindrop contribute to a watershed? Key Concepts –overland flow, subsurface flow, flow direction, flow integration

Module 2 Introduction of flow concepts 3 part progression –Explanation of a watershed –Computer draws a watershed –User draws a watershed Possible computer analysis of user performance

Module 3 Concept –Time evolution of a watershed’s flow Question –What happens to a watershed’s flow over time? Key Concepts –Flow rate, residence time, stream-flow generation, “bucket” analogy, flooding

Module 3 Interaction of all earlier concepts over space and time Presentation of the “bucket” analogy Presentation of mathematical formulas 3-D interactive simulation of flooding By far, the most complex of all 3 modules

The Presentation

Example Graphics

Example Screen Static screen content is presented here Dynamic screen content is presented here This Navigation Menu is present on all screens This is for simple screen to screen navigation User interaction occurs in this screen region. Information entry, menu choices, and all other user interface occurs here

Example Interactive Screen

Program Navigation Introduction WWW Links Module 3Module 2 Home Screen Module 1 Glossary Content Help System

Module Navigation Program Main Screen Section 3Section 2 Module Main Screen Section 1 Content