HR: 0800h
AN: ED51B-0420    [Abstracts]
TI: Simple environmental sensor webs for classroom inquiry
AU: * Fatland, D R
EM: rob.fatland@microsoft.com
AF: Vexcel-Microsoft, 1690 38th St, Boulder, CO 80301, United States
AB: This paper describes a platform for inquiry-driven learning in environmental science at the secondary and undergraduate levels including preliminary results from two pilot sensor web-driven projects, in progress. The work presented here emphasizes - Documenting construction and use of the platform - Analysis of results over technology used - Open-ended iteration of the inquiry process Cognitive theory suggests that pedagogical modes of ‘information-transfer' fall short as a means of building (arguably useful) problem solving and critical thinking skills in comparison with inquiry-driven modes. In view of limited classroom time and constraints such as standardized testing, sensor web-driven environmental inquiry faces a two-fold challenge: Minimize time-intrusion into the curriculum and make that time highly productive and valuable for students. The technology employed here is a wireless microcomputer network ruggedized for outdoor use, interfaces to simple environmental sensors, supplemental data from a low-cost meteorological station, and data recovery and analysis by means of a laptop PC. Target cost of the system (not including the PC) is 2000USD. The baseline study subject is watershed hydrology, with a corollary aim of "identifiying the doorways" into related subjects and story lines. The general plan of action proceeds in these steps: - Build and test the system - Students work with the system in the classroom - Students formulate a deployment plan - Instruments deployed, data acquired and formatted - Student analysis, hypothesis generation, research - Reiterate the previous three steps as possible Once this platform/program is established the idea is to expand to include personalized reflection and self- expression per the curriculum established by the River of Words non-profit organization. The second expansion idea is (per the eScience model) to facilitate Internet-based exchanges and equipment sharing with students located in other geographical regions and countries.
UR: http://robfatland.net/seamonster
DE: 1800 HYDROLOGY
DE: 1856 River channels (0483, 0744)
DE: 1879 Watershed
DE: 2104 Cosmic rays
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting