Making Differences: Uses of GeoBrain in Classroom Teaching of Earth System and Geospatial Information Sciences at Higher Education Institutes Worldwide

GeoBrain is a standard-compliant, open, distributed, three-tier Web information and knowledge building system developed for helping education and research activities in Earth system and geospatial information sciences. Utilizing latest Web service and knowledge management technologies, the system creates an on-line geospatial data-rich learning and research environment that enables students, faculty members, and researchers from institutes all over the world easily to access, analyze, and model with the huge amount of NASA EOS data just like they possess those vast resources locally at their desktops. Through sharing the experiences and lessons learned from using GeoBrain in classroom teaching at some selected higher education institutes, this paper demonstrates how the GeoBrain system has brought changes to the traditional education in Earth system and geospatial information sciences and how the utilization of GeoBrain in classroom teaching can make great differences in these areas.