HR: 11:05h
AN: ED32A-04    [Abstracts]
TI: AS1 Seismographs in the Classroom
AU: * Levy, G M
EM: levy@iris.edu
AF: IRIS Consortium, 1200 New York Ave. NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005
AU: Braile, L W
EM: braile@purdue.edu
AF: Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2051
AU: Taber, J J
EM: taber@iris.edu
AF: IRIS Consortium, 1200 New York Ave. NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20005
AU: Lahr, J C
EM: lahr@usgs.gov
AF: U.S. Geological Survey, PO Box 385, Golden, CO 80402
AB: The IRIS E&O program has distributed nearly 90 AS1 seismographs to schools and science centers across the US in the past 4 years. The AS1 seismograph is a low cost (\$600), stand-alone system that is capable of recording 1-4 teleseismic earthquakes per month, depending on the site. Local earthquakes, mining blasts, and cultural noise can also be recorded. The data are displayed using the AmaSeis software developed by Alan Jones. IRIS has promoted the use of seismographs in several ways and encourages other groups to develop independent activities to leverage and expand on IRIS resources. Consortium members have created new classroom activities with some assistance from small seed money grants. Available exercises include instrument calibration, magnitude and location estimation, and analysis of seismograms. The AmaSeis software can also be used without a seismograph to display, analyze and interpret seismograms downloaded from the Internet. While AS1 seismographs have the advantage of being independent units that do not require a network connection, it is valuable for teachers and students to be part of a larger group. Information can be shared between teachers using a listserve and data can be shared via the SpiNet site maintained by Science Education Solutions. Near-real-time helicorder images can be shared via school or science center Web sites. Teachers explore the basics of AS1 operation as a small part of a 1-day earthquakes and plate tectonics workshop that is presented several times a year at national and regional science teacher meetings, after which they can apply for a seismograph. This year we have initiated an additional 1-day workshop focused solely on the use of the seismograph. The goals of this workshop are for teachers to become more experienced with the operation and calibration of the AS1 and to improve their ability to use data from the seismograph as part of their seismology/plate tectonics instruction. The workshop also provides an opportunity for experienced teachers to demonstrate how they use their seismograph and promote the sharing of data between schools. Where possible, a seismologist visits individual schools after the seismograph has been installed to help answer any questions they may have about the use of the instrument, about other IRIS-supported software, and about seismology in general. The school visits have been very well received and have helped the teachers to become more involved in the program. The IRIS AS1 program allows teachers to bring active seismology into the classroom. It is easy to use and its design makes it effective to teach about how a seismometer works and to install in a classroom for immediate and continuous viewing and use. In addition, it can be a catalyst for teachers and students to communicate with other schools about their mutual earthquake recordings.
UR: http://www.iris.edu/edu/AS1.htm
DE: 7200 SEISMOLOGY
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
DE: 0845 Instructional tools
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting