Scott's Wiki Page
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Excel Assignment- For this assignment, we collect data on the water quality in both the Susquehanna River and the Wyalusing Creek. Students then transfer the data to an Excel workbook, using different worksheets for each set of data. Students must use excel to make totals, averages and other computations. They could even use a formula to convert from degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius. Finally they must make a graph or chart for each set of data. Here is a student sample:
PowerPoint Assignment- For this assignment, groups of students choose a goelogic period and create a presentation. Part of their presentation must include a PowerPoint presentation. Here is a sample:
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PowerPointSample
1.ppt
Virtual Technology Assignment- This assignment would involve learning about the formation and importance of soil. I would make a worksheet to go along with it. I would first assign each student a different critter to read up about under the "Transmogrify" link. They would have to list three interesting facts about it, then each student (or pair) would present to the rest of the class. After this each student could take the "Critter Quiz" to see how much they know about the critters that inhabit and help form the soil. Students would then click on the virtual tour. Before taking the tour they would read the page and list 7 things that we would not have without soil (4 are listed on the page). Then they would take the virtual tour to learn more. Finally, they would click on the "10 things you can do to improve soil quality" link and list 5 of them. Then choose one, click on and read the link, and summarize it in a paragraph, some of which could be shared later with the class.
WebQuest Assignment-
Inspiration Assignment- The software that I find most appealling is the InspireData. It would work really well with the WeatherBug program that our school is currently installing, which is basically a weather station that measures and records over 15 different weather related parameters. One possible project would be to try to identify predictors of changing weather, particularly the onset of a storm. I would first choose 3 different days and times that storms moved in. Students would have to take the WeatherBug data and input it into InspireData. They would input data for 6 different parameters (temperature, wind speed, barometric pressure, and three others that they think may be predictors) at 15 minute intervals for 2 hours prior to the onset of the storm. I would also show them various ways to analyze and represent the data. Students would then have to represent the data graphically in at least two different ways. They would then determine which of the 6 parameters may actually be indicators of oncoming storms. Finally, they would try to find out why the trends actually occur, like why the wind would pick up prior to the changing weather pattern.
Another way that I would utilize this is with labs that we do. After completing a lab the students could take a survey as a way of inputing the data from all of my classes. I could then use InspireData to represent and analyze all of the data that is collected. I would probably do this a few times, using various representations, before letting them do a project on their own like the one described above. This is definitely something that I think the science and math departments should consider purchasing.
Chatroom Assignment- One way I would use a chatroom is to plan a field trip. Last year I took one to the Endless Mountains Nature Center. In order to improve the trip this year, I plan to use the chatroom. I'll ask the teachers that went last year to post their thoughts and in particular what could be improved. For example, last year we took the Envirothon students to help with the water chemistry testing and from what I gathered there were mixed reviews. Some thought it went well and that it was nice to have the assistance, others felt that they were more trouble then they were worth. Instead of trying to have a meeting, which would be difficult, I thought this would be a good way to help decide if I would invite them again, and if so, in what capacity.
Blog Assignment-http://smyer.21classes.com/ I would use this as a way for my students to get help on homeworks, projects and test preparation. It seems like it would be a great tool if it is used properly. One question that I would have is the level of responsibility I have for what gets posted.
"Open Office" Assignment-
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Podcasts-
- All of the ones that I found offered only audio, making them merely a substitute for reading, although this can be nice when multitasking.
Science PodcastScientific AmericanNASA
Blogs-
- This podcast is produced by science magazine. They seem to all be audio podcasts, averaging about 30 minutes in length. It is put out edvery week and includes some interesting current research, much of which relates well to earth science. In the past two months, topics include solar wind composition, corals that detect lunar light, and water on Mars.
(magazine)- This site offers 60 second audio podcasts. It includes some quick, to the point decriptions of current happenings in science. In the past week, podcasts discuss the recently sited Comet Holmes as well as false claims that Mars will get close enough to earth to appear the size of the moon.
- Again, this offers only audio podcasts, averaging about 5 minutes in length. It offers a variety of information on astronomy news.
- My first exploration into the blog scene. It made me realize that I wasn't missing much. It doesn't seem like the place to get accurate, objective information.
Space Race- This is a fairly interesting blog discussing Asia's role in the space race. Last week China sent up their first lunar probe. As with much space exploration, it is often debated that the true intent is less about discovery and and increase in scientific knowledge and more about improving war machines.
Global Warming- This blog presents some ways to mitigate global warming, including some links. It also contains a lot of the typical bickering between the two extreme mantras of "If anything goes wrong, it's Global Warming's fault" and "Ignorance is bliss and apathy is easier than action".
California Wildfires due to Climate Change- A fitting blog to find after the previous. Similar to politics, a lot of chatter but nothing good gets accomplished. It begins with a USDA bioclimatologist claiming that increasing severity of wildfires out West is consistent with climate change models. Then, some bloggers take it one step further, insisting that this is just another example of what climate change is causing. Claims like this, although somewhat plausible, are far from proven, as the wildfires could just be a fluke, set by a firefighter having a slow summer in need of more beer money, or of poor management practices. Instead of encouraging positive action, these unsubstantiated claims add fuel to the fire and make many of those on the fence even more skeptical. One of these skeptical bloggers sums it all up quite humorously, writing "You know, my sink is clogged. I think its global warming".
WebQuests
Students learn about groundwater, water usage, water properties and locate their own watershed
Soil- Students learn about the importance of soil, key terminology, observe and classify key components, distinguish between sand, silt and clay, its interdependence with the biota, and the need for conservation
Earthquakes- Students learn what causes earthquakes, see pictures of their destruction, and use data from seismograms to determine the location of epicenters
River Discharge- Students learn about all about river discharge: how it is defined, what parts of the river move the fastest, how the average velocity is determined, how discharge is calculated, and how meanders form
River Flooding- Students learn about flooding, flood frequency, erosion and deposition by making observations and measurements, doing calculations, and answering questions
Homework Assignment #1: Search Engines
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What is the text entered into the search box?
radioactive dating of rocks
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For the basic search, how many results are returned?
Google- about 1,060,000
Yahoo- about 327,000
Ask- 69,400
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Using the first 10 results, how many appear to be useful?
Google-9
Yahoo-7
Ask-8
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Make links to three sites that appear to be useful.
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Refine your search by using the advanced search features. What did you do to refine your search?
I excluded the terms "wikipedia", "christain" and "genesis" because I did not want anything that was from wikipedia or anything from a christain scientists.
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Are the results returned significantly different in number or content?
Yes, after viewing the original search it successfully excluded what I didn't want. It was surprising how many fewer results there were- about 26,00 less for Ask, 155,00 less for
Yahoo and 600,00 less for Google. Its amazing to me how many of the previous sites would have included those words.
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Compare and contrast the homepages for each of the search engines. What features do you like/dislike about them?
I like how Yahoo and Ask give suggested searches as you are typing it in. I also like how you can search for images. Yahoo and Ask are nice in that it provides news on the homepage, Yahoo also provides a bunch of other options as well. But if you just looking to search it doesn't seem too necessary.
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Compare and contrast the results pages for each of the search engines. What features do you like/dislike about them?
Its nice how Ask allows you to narrow or expand your search and includes related names, unlike the other two. I like how Google provides results for books at the beginning, which the other two do not. It also allows you to search your desktop, which could come in handy, as well as provide search tips and an opportunity to express dissatisfaction.
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Which of the three do you find best? Why?
Based on this search alone, I don't really find one to be too much better than another. Many of the same sites seemed to come up on all search engines. Since Google provided the most useful responses I'll probably stick with it as my search engine of choice. Also, because it provides so many more results it seems like it is doing a better job, but maybe the latter ones just aren't as useful.
WeatherBug.xls
SoilErosionWebQuest.doc
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