Making Good Looking Diagrams from Theriak-Domino Output
Dexter Perkins
, University of North Dakota
Author Profile
This activity is part of the On the Cutting Edge Peer Reviewed Teaching Activities collection.
HideSummary
This is a complementary exercise that follows "Using Theriak-Domino to Calculate Equilibrium Phase Diagrams." I have students do this because it brings closure to the other exercise and it teaches students how to produce good, high-quality diagrams that might be used in publications or reports.
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Context
Audience
I use this in my junior level petrology class.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
They must have generated diagrams using Theriak-Domino for this particular exercise. But, the graphics skills they learn can be used for many other things too.
How the activity is situated in the course
This is sort of a final "cleaning up" part of a longer module involving exercises in thermodynamics, phase diagrams, and computer modelling. It is not absolutely necessary that students do this in my class, but it works well, teaches them valuable skills, and they LIKE it.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
There are no geological/petrological goals. The goal is to teach students how to make good looking graphics from typical confusing/poor computer-generated graphics.
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
Students learn about graphics composition, design and layout.
Other skills goals for this activity
The goal is to teach students how to make good looking graphics from typical computer-generated graphics.
Description of the activity/assignment
This activity is a straightforward project that involves starting with bad looking computer-generated diagrams and making them beautiful and ready for publication.
Determining whether students have met the goals
If students produce something nice and publishable, they have accomplished the goals. If they don't we talk to them about things they need to consider next time.
More information about assessment tools and techniques.Teaching materials and tips
- Handout: Making Good Looking Diagrams from Theriak-Domino Output (Microsoft Word 142MB Jun16 11)
- Instructors' notes for "Making Goo Looking Diagrams from Theriak-Domino Output" (Microsoft Word 2kB Jun16 11)
Other Materials
Supporting references/URLs
Key supporting exercises (also in the SERC collection) are:
-Calculating a Phase Diagram using TWQ
-Using Theriak-Domino to Calculate Equilibrium Phase Diagrams
-Calculating a Phase Diagram using TWQ
-Using Theriak-Domino to Calculate Equilibrium Phase Diagrams