NOON DAY Collaborative Project at Maricopa Wells
Gina Pinch, Director of Technology and I trained as Savvy Cyber/CIESE Mentor teachers for MUSD in the year 2000. Over the years we continue to bring a variety of fully-developed on-line projects to MUSD K-12 Teachers.
Recently, I sent out an announcement of the Noon Day Project.
"The
Goal of the Noon Day Project is to have students measure
the
circumference of the earth using a method that was first used by
Eratosthenes over 2000 years ago. Students at various sites
around the world will measure shadows
cast by a meter stick and compare
their results. From this data students will be able to calculate the
circumference of the earth." CIESE
Congratulations to Mrs. Jennifer Gomez and her 5th hour, 8th Grade, Pre-Algebra Class who joined this FREE on-line collaborative project. When I caught up with the class on Wednesday, September 26th, they had already been working with several days worth of sun movement measurements.
(Link to pictures at bottom of blog)
When I met up with them outside their classroom, at the start of 5th hour, students were already aligning and stabilizing meter sticks that would be used as one of their tools. Underneath the sticks, they had first set down butcher paper. The stick cast the sun's shadow on the paper and the small teams were directed by the teacher to take new measurements every 2 minutes for 10 minutes. This was the data collection phase.
Along with this and several other days of data the students are developing mathematical and statistical ways to analyze and interpret their data - to make it meaningful. The collaborative portion of this project derives from the publishing and evaluation of many class findings. The students in Mrs. Gomez's class were viewing data submitted by students in other countries, far flung geographic locations, who are conducting the same project NOW!
Students will now work to calculate the circumference of the Earth, prepared with a good understanding of
mathematics, the measurements of their simple tools and methods, and factoring in data
published from a worldwide host of contributors ! They viewed data and pictures from Australia, Philippines, France and more! Here's a glimpse of some of the data being developed by participating students: View Data Here
Please join me in congratulating this class for their innovative use of technology as a stepping stone to a broader world view and deeper understanding of the curricular content they are already studying!
If you would like to know more about CIESE Projects or are interested in joining a project with your class, and are not sure where to begin, contact me: achayefsky@musd20.org District Technology Integration Specialist
POSTED BY Amy Chayefsky AT 9/28/2007 5:32 PM
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