Friday, November 5, 2010

Reflections from Week 5 Training (11-1-10)


Reflections from Week 5
Well, we have completed five weeks of the training for the ICCARS project, but it feels like we could use 5-10 more weeksJ  But there is only so much time, so we hope things are starting to come together.  At our last meeting we primarily focused in on aerokats imaging.  I know it was difficult and somewhat confusing, but we wanted you to start understanding the process and we will have more PD for you during the year.  By the time we bring new teachers into the project, we will have a manual that will be easy to follow.  We are glad we were able to work with some of you after the meeting on the iPad.  I hope that the iPad is becoming a useful tool to you.  Have you checked out the new Apps:  Project Noah and WildObs?  These will give you an idea of what our App will eventually do with data.  Here are some thoughts before our next meeting on Monday, November 8:
  • Matt Shackleford from DTE will be joining us to present a Biologists perspective of the project.
  • We would encourage you to participate in the GLOBE/NSTA Web Seminar Earth Climate Course to be held on November 16, 2010.  The topic is “What factors have the greatest influence on the temperature of a planet?”  It is online and will be held from 6:30 – 8:00 and it is free.  To register, please visit: http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/NES/webseminar2.aspx
  • We know we have done a little GLOBE work with GPS and atmosphere, but we hope you are getting a better feel of GLOBE.  We have activated your GLOBE ID’s so that you can get the GLOBE emails, resources and join the GLOBE Student Climate Research Campaign.  We will have your login ID’s ready for you on Monday.  You can join by visiting: http://globe.gov/scrc  Try and join in as soon as you can.
  • We will have a new kite for each school on Monday, a nine-foot Levitation.  You will also get your Kestrel on Monday.  Check it out at: http://www.kestrelmeters.com/Kestrel-4500-Weather-Meter.pro?gclid=CLLm986TiqUCFQgKKgodxEC3NQ
  • Don’t forget to schedule our PLC meetings from December-June.  They will be on the second Monday of the month from 4:30-5:30.  You can access them via phone and a computer would be helpful.  Our first PLC meeting is December 13.
  • Many of you have said you can use additional training.  Andy and I will be producing tutorials and that should help.  But what do you need additional training on?  Let us know the topics and we can build a schedule of optional trainings.  We could meet at your schools, meet at RESA, do phone trainings, whatever you like.  So let us know how we can help you!
  • By Monday, there will be lots of new resources in the eCollaboratory.  Xiaoliang is working on adding all of the things we want.  RSS feeds have been added.  These are great ways to view the most current information on climate change and remote sensing.  You can also put the URL’s in your iPad using an RSS reader like Early Edition.  It makes the news easier and more fun to read.
  • Don’t forget that we will be talking about your project ideas on Monday.  Also, bring any assessments that you have on climate change.

We look forward to your comments.  Let us know what you think.  See you on Monday,
Andy and Dave

8 comments:

  1. I agree that we need more training. I was very confused by the camera image portion of our class. I need a greater understanding of how to create the images, and more importantly how to use them effectively with my wonderful science students. I am open to whatever format of training everyone would find useful.

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  2. Russ and I are starting to make aquariums with plexiglass tops that we will insert CO2 sensors and burn set amounts of fossil fuels and measure increase in CO2. Then we will burn the same amount and type of material with materials that have been identified as CO2 sinks (ie. Water) and see what happens.

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  3. In order to post, I have to first write my comment, then select a profile, log in, then type in the phrase and then post. Not convenient at all. Ugh

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  4. I am excited to apply the use of the technology throughout the year. We have completed landforms and topographic maps recently and are creating our own local map of our school. This is a great lesson to begin a local study http://education.usgs.gov/schoolyard/MapSketch.html
    The national map link has historic images of our area.
    We are adding exposed rocks to our maps now and identifying what type of rocks they are. We are going to add layer upon layer throughout the year of our studies.

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  5. Posting was the same number of steps. No time or hassle savings.

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  6. Actually, from the perspective of someone who regularly teaches similar image processing, I really don't think that any one thing we dud last week was all that challenging or hard to comprehend. However, when we put them all together, we ended up with something complex, somewhat intimidating and difficult to comprehend as a whole. Perhaps one of our goals can be to modify this lesson I to discrete and manageable lessons, allowing some degree if mastery before moving to the next step. Just my 1/50th of a dollar. YMMV.

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  7. Boy! Looking at that spelling makes me aware how NOT awesome the "auto-complete" feature of the iPhone / iPad is.

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  8. It would have been nice to have had time to do the image processing last week and if any difficulties would arise we could then ask for help. I am not a big fan of the "leave them in the dust'" style of teaching.

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