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Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 26-Feb-2001 09:44:00

Author: xxxxxxxx

Subject: DataSlate Projects 

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The more I work with DataSlate, the more interesting it becomes. I particularly enjoyed the Mount St. Helens assignment. It was easy to contrast the images from the different years because of the dramatic changes in the area in such a short period of time. The supplemental sites were also interesting, but I have to admit I got a little bogged down with some of the statistical information provided by some of the sites. The photographs on those sites provided "grounding" information to clarify what I was seeing in the satellite images.

The El NiÒo project also used DataSlate effectively to demonstrate the changes in precipitation patterns. The web sites were very interesting and helpful in understanding the different effects of El NiÒo and La NiÒa. The animated graphs of temperature changes in the ocean were very interesting. You could teach a lengthy unit with all the amount of information that was available on these web sites.

Great American Desert was also interesting. I like the way the spreadsheet application was incorporated into the project. (My computer applications classes create spreadsheets using similar formats). Using the different layers in DataSlate to label and provide additional information to students is an effective teaching tool and helped clarify the images for me. The web site on grasses was interesting and provided good information for the students to use to develop their test plot.
 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 26-Feb-2001 13:13:00

Author: xxxxxxxxx

Subject: Re: DataSlate Projects 

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Glad you are liking DataSlate and are finding the power in the tool. I think that DataSlate is very useful. When I chose the 4 project for week 4 & 5 to have you look at I was hoping to show diversity so that you would appreciate the program. It seems that I have been successful in this small case :) 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 03-Mar-2001 19:32:00

Author: xxxxxxxxx

Subject: Comments on DataSlate Projects 

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The Blanket of Ash lesson was very interesting; I could hardly believe what I was seeing. Looking at a 1973 image was a great contrast to a 1983 image. The latter image was not as red, showing less vegetation, I assume. I was not sure whether the white particles were snow or lava. I detected more rivers of lava in the later image, as well as a larger volcanic opening, more spread out. The lesson itself was good to see, to see all the objectives, teacher preparation, etc. It was a good sample to study. Some mathematical applications might be studying readings such as pressure, earthquake readings, and temperatures occurring shortly before eruption and comparing them to readings taken several months before the eruption.

The El Nino lesson contained a similar format. It was interesting to see the curriculum standards. I also liked the web links where you could go and learn more. The Standardized Vegetation Index was quite fascinating, as it showed the extreme conditions from one year to the next. It was interesting how it illustrated the flood conditions as well as the droughts, and other climate factors effecting the growing season. An interesting study might be to set up some ratios between moisture in a given year and crop production.

The Great American Desert utilized a DataSlate featuring Garden City, Kansas. Again, it was a new experience to see the Channel 2 labeling of the different features. The Platte River, Crescent Lake, test plots, and pivot irrigation sites made it easier to visualize the study being made. Of course, there was a great implication for use of this in a statistics class. The students could formulate a hypothesis, conduct some tests on the data collected in the spreadsheets, and make some conclusions.
 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 03-Mar-2001 20:07:00

Author:xxxxxxx

Subject: Re: Comments on DataSlate Projects 

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Hi xxxxxxxx
You really have some well-formulated ideas - in particular, the statistics and graphing techniques should be useful example for your 'mathematicians'. 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 03-Mar-2001 22:31:00

Author: xxxxxxxxx

Subject: DataSlate Projects 

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I will admit to having experienced a bit of frustration in getting this activity set up. Trying to load, unzip files, find files etc. was lessening my motivation – until I figured out what I was doing. I think that it would be very important to make sure everything worked correctly (links, pages etc.) before students began working on this type of project. Once I got everything working, however, I really enjoyed these projects and I’m sure students would also be motivated. There is a lot of higher-level thinking and problem solving encouraged by each of these activities.

Blanket of Ash: I like this project because of the way it is set up. It is compact and allows the students to use several features of DataSlate and solve real-world problems. It also guides the students with the questions that are asked. As a practical matter, I like that it can be completed in two class periods. I know it is meant for all kids, but it would also be a great extension activity for kids who could work on a single computer in the classroom while other students participated in other learning activities about volcanoes.

El Nino: The images and all the information in this site were great – interesting to even a non-science person like myself. I can see how this type of activity could really bring weather to life for students. Since the students have experienced the extremely variable weather of recent years, this type of activity is much more motivating than a traditional textbook assignment. I really like the channel 2 in DataSlate – especially with this project.

Great American Desert: I liked this project – it was very well-planned and had students work through a process and then present their findings to others. I really like the DataSlate that was with this project – the labels helped clarify what was really confusing to me at the beginning.

I work on an interdisciplinary team and plan on sharing this DataSlate “stuff” with the science and math teachers on my team.
 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 04-Mar-2001 07:57:00

Author: xxxxxxxxx

Subject: Re: DataSlate Projects 

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Hi xxxxxxxx
Nice reviews - and thanks for sharing your information with others.
Incidentally, if something is not working properly (bad link, zip file), please take your frustration out on the instructors! That's what we are here for. We found, not long ago, that some of the zip files are not cross-platform and we are trying to get them replaced. 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 04-Mar-2001 10:44:00    (Original: 04-Mar-2001 10:27:00)

Author: xxxxxx

Subject: Dataslate Projects 

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The Mount St. Helen's Project to me was fascinating! I really think this would spark the students desire. The only reservation I had was the time alotment for the lesson. I truly feel a week long wouldn't be long enough...you could expand this in so many directions! I also think the students would be totally absorbed in exploring the sites provided and be given the time to do this is very important...that "teachable" moment when they've peeked that interest! The included sites were just terrific and I felt easily manipulated. Great Project!

The El Nino Project was obviously aimed at a more advanced student and I think the wordiness and material required to read through would be best done as a group so as to be sure the struggling student would still find interest and be engaged in the rest of the project. The Data Sheet attached was just great! Students would love to record their data this way and it was easily readable and methodic. Very student-friendly! Another fine project!

The American Desert Project was informational...I would have liked to see more time spent on the development and understanding of Global Warming and its repercussions. I do understand how important it would be to pinpoint the lesson objective which was nicely done here. The informational data given on the grasses was superb! My only question again, would be the amount of information available and the amount of time spent on exploring and digesting all the information given. Would be ashame to hurry through this! Great, informational and stimulating project for students. I really appreciated the objective of a hypothosis to be formed by the student...excellent problem based learning task! 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 04-Mar-2001 12:38:00

Author: xxxxxxxx

Subject: Re: Dataslate Projects 

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xxxxxxx,
You have hit on the main strength and weakness of DataSlate at the same time. You are ablsolutely correct in your statements of DataSlates power and application and the motivation of students. At the same time there are so many extensions, variations that could happen that time is a concern. I like the idea of building a long term project (hopefully interdisciplinary) around a dataset. This give time for extensions in other places than just your class it also brings nice PBL to the classroom and a general emersion in the problem. DataSlate is a powerful classroom tool the key is figuring out how you can best adapt its uses to your own level and classroom. 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 17-Mar-2001 14:35:00    (Original: 17-Mar-2001 14:33:00)

Author: xxxxxxx

Subject: Re: Dataslate Projects 

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You are realizing the global thinking that teachers must do if they are to effectively use these tools. These tools also provide the means for us to become interdisciplinary teachers! When learning is interdisciplinary then students use the tool for longer and yet perfect their knowledge in so many areas. Reading, writing, math as well as all the other disciplines have objectives that should be met in all disciplines. We are used to hearing students say "You aren't my English teacher, why are you correcting and taking off points for spelling." Life uses all the disciplines. If students make statements like that, it sounds like they figure writing correctly will not be important once they are beyond the school walls. The tools like dataslate give us a means to make learning fun and not just rote and also meet the standards set for all the disciplines that will be used to live in the world beyond K-12 classrooms. 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 04-Mar-2001 10:51:00

Author: xxxxxxxxx

Subject: Wk 5 - Data Slate Projects 

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The areas selected for study seem interesting, but the levels shown bring home again the ideas that use of much of the data with viewing the sites seem geared for grades above third. The ideas are good, and knowing how plans proceed, may take longer than expected.

The Mt. St. Helens seems closer to what I could use, as we learn about the volcano.St. Helen's explosion left a fine powder over Grand Island a few days later. I also have a jar of ash from that explosion.The ideas could be simplified for use at grade three. 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 04-Mar-2001 12:43:00

Author: xxxxxxxx

Subject: Re: Wk 5 - Data Slate Projects 

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For third grade how about a data set on the growth of a plant from the seed that you plant to the initial germination to the growth to flowering. The layers could be individual digital pictures then your channels would show the change in growth. The dataset does not have to be overhead imagery. There are lot of other possibilities. Someone mentioned following the restoration of a car in various steps for industrial tech. The possibilites are endless..... 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 08-Apr-2001 22:04:00

Author: xxxxxxx

Subject: Re: Wk 5 - Data Slate Projects 

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The third grade has been sent a plant growing kit, as a gift from Walmart. I believe it is there for all elementary schools.I used it last year as the school year ended, so the class had plants to take home to grow over summer vacation.

In the kit are a variety of seeds,plastic containers,little peat coins that expand when wet, and directions for both kids and teachers.. We kept records for watering, growth / non-growth. 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 17-Mar-2001 14:40:00

Author: xxxxxxxx

Subject: Re: Wk 5 - Data Slate Projects 

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Earlier one of you mentioned the use of a digital camera and pictures of the Platte and the state of flooding etc. Young children could use the digital camera to take pictures of the same thing, from the same spot as it changes. Like the growth of a plant that Brian mentions, these pictures or digital images then could be built into a data set that shows change over time. 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 08-Apr-2001 21:58:00

Author: xxxxxxx

Subject: Re: Wk 5 - Data Slate Projects 

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I am finding our district doesn't want us to do any more field trips!! (Our new superintendent from Beatrice.) We are to concentrate on the 3 r's !! 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 04-Mar-2001 19:22:00

Author: xxxxxxx

Subject: DataSlate Projects 

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I guess I spent most of my time on the Mt. St. Hellen's project. I remember when that happened and have a jar of the ash on my desk. The images of the area show how devastating a volcanic eruption can be. I really liked the idea of having students figure out how to evacuate the area should an eruption occur. It isn't always as easy as it seems. I remember that the Forest Service had trouble getting campers/people living in the area to agree to leave. We aren't used to having to deal with that type of catastrophy in the continental United States. However, in light of the recent earthquake in Seattle, maybe we had better start paying closer attention to areas other than the San Adreas fault.

The effects of El Nino/La Nina is a great way to study weather patterns. Students sometimes forget that weather is created over water and travels here. Since we live in a landlocked state, studying something like El Nino/La Nina and its affect on the weather in the Midwest is interesting. Since many of my students have never seen the ocean, it is difficult for them to imagine how and why these things can affect them. The student pages were very well developed and looked like they would be easy to use.

I really liked the Great American Desert. I even learned something. I didn't realize that the germination time of grazing grasses vs noxious weeds were so close. (Although that makes since that weeds are so adaptable to change or we wouldn't have so many)I liked the charts that were provided to collect data. This would be a great activity for older kids as they could watch the commodities market fluctuate with grain prices, do price comparisons over time, etc. 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 05-Mar-2001 08:03:00

Author: xxxxxxxx

Subject: Re: DataSlate Projects 

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Great reviews. You have tied the 'blocks' to some thoughtful projects for the students. This is an extremely important concept - how to think about a situation and extrapolate meaningful and effective results.
It also reminds me that I want to do a 'day trip' to Meadville (15 mi N of Ainsworth) which is supposed to be the location of the 'fastest moving fault line' in the state. I have never been able to get confirmation of this but it may be true as we look at the earth movements in the Niobrara State Park.
Hopefully, we'll get a 'virtual farmer' from that area and they will be able to help us out!  


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 17-Mar-2001 14:53:00

Author: xxxxxxxx

Subject: Re: DataSlate Projects 

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The forest/swamp fires in Florida and how it closed highways and also caused evacuations would be along the same lines as the volcanos. In PA. years ago they stopped drivers and made them get out and help fight the fires along the highway through the Poconos. Tornados effect on land would also make for an interesting dataslate and could be studied from a social studies, math, agricultural, science(weather, soil composition change etc.)and family consumer sciences perspective.  


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 05-Mar-2001 20:34:00

Author: xxxxxxxx

Subject: DataSlate Project Comments 

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Having some frustrations during the start of exploring using the magnifying tools took patience and playing with this. Guess this is normal since students always demand answers now with little time to think and desire to use their patience in solving problems. WOW!

The effects of El Nino/La Nina is a unique way to study weather patterns. Am curious to check this out with the Hantavirus project. Is there a pattern or process to be observed with this.
Just think of all the publicity both of these got the last couple of years.

My favorite is Mt. St. Helen's project? How is this similar to loess? Makes you think of humor? What does a boy volcano say to a girl volcano? I lava you! The girl volcano said, tuff, I do not lava you! You know you need to think about the possible environment where all the trees are gone. Windy is the key factor here. Besides that ash being in the air is not good for camera or any type. WOW!

The price of working on this is:
"creating tomorrow today"
This take time and effort to examine all the usefullness of this learning tool. AWESOME!!!

 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 08-Mar-2001 13:44:00

Author: xxxxxxxx

Subject: Re: DataSlate Project Comments 

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I am glad you liked what you saw. I am interested in the Hantavirus project that you are talking about. BTW hope your team has good luck at state :)
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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 17-Mar-2001 15:09:00

Author: xxxxxxxxxx

Subject: Re: DataSlate Project Comments 

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Ah yes the immediate answer. That is one of the issues with PBL. First one works on the patience, no quick answers. The articles on PBL referred to the students wanting to go for the answer before determining the questions. So often we don't take the time to assess the whole situation. PBL fascinates students once they learn the technique. It is amazing how long they will spend on a problem because they get hooked and immerse themselves. It is always good for us to realize how students feel. You recognized your impatience and then having experienced the reward of satisfaction after working through the problem you will now be better able to guide your students so they experience the same satisfaction. 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 10-Mar-2001 10:12:00

Author: xxxxxxxxx

Subject: Data Slate Lessons 

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        The three lessons using Data Slate were interesting.
        The Mount St Helens lesson was my favorite. It was very interesting comparing the images and seeing how much area was covered in ash and how plant growth began to recover. Students may need some extra time to practice with the measuring tool and calibrating the scale. The lesson pointed students to look for certain things which was very helpful. You could probably use these lessons with younger than 8th grade.
        The lesson on Great American Desert was interesting. I liked the way students had to choose a testing plot and the accompanying spreadsheet. I also liked the way you can use Data Slate with labels.
        I spent quite a bit more time on the El Nino lesson. There was a lot of data collection and I thought some of the data on precipitation and temperature rankings was difficult to understand. I think you would need more than one or two class periods for this lesson. Its cool when you see a dramatic change as in the July ë97 Vegetative Index. 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 10-Mar-2001 12:32:00

Author: xxxxxxxxx

Subject: Re: Data Slate Lessons 

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Agreed on the time factor. It is necessary to prune sometimes and use what you want to. The ideas are good in these projects. They are interesting and all use PBL. It is up to the individual teacher to use this type of lesson in their own way. I also agree that some students could use some extra time with the tools in DataSlate but after the time is spent the possibilities of DataSlate seem endless..... 


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Current Forum: Week 5 Comments on DataSlate Projects

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Date: 17-Mar-2001 15:13:00

Author: xxxxxxxx

Subject: Re: Data Slate Lessons 

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The learning curve is always the greatest investment of time but once learned, I agree, the opportunities to use DataSlate and create your own are huge. 


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