Project 1: Tracking El Nino's
Impact
General
Information
| Lead Teacher(s):
|
Glen Edwards - Phys.
Ed./Science Teacher
(gedwards@calvin.stemnet.nf.ca)Donna
Wall - Math Teacher
(dwall@calvin.stemnet.nf.ca)
|
| School: |
St. Francis Xavier
Elementary
26 Price's Avenue
Grand Falls-Windsor, NF
A2B 1C9
Tel: (709) 489-2127 |
| Grade Level: |
Grades 7-9 |
| Number of
Students: |
15 - 20 students
from Grades 7-9. However, as the project gets
underway, larger number of students will become
involved. |
| Project Start and
Finish Dates: |
January '98 - June
'98 with the intent of creating a database that
can be accessed in the future by other grades. |
Project
Overview
The intent of this project is to track how climate is
being affected by El Nino from its source to it
termination point. This is to include local changes as
compared to past climatic patterns.
To do this, students will access the Internet and
effectively communicate, compile, and interpret collected
data. This will require ongoing contact with a number of
sources from across regions of the continent. Students
will be responsible of reorganizing information as it
becomes available. Data will then be gathered into a
proper framework for presentation.
While working on the goals of this project, students
will become familiar with the Internet as an effective
communication and learning tool.
Curriculum
Connections
What Curriculum Objectives Are Being Met?
Technology Education:
- Demonstrate understanding of the basic
communications principles of encoding, decoding,
transmitting, receiving, storing and retrieving.
- Understand the nature and characteristics of a
variety of media and communications systems.
- Explore new and emerging communications systems.
- Develop a rationale for solving a particular and
effectively communicate that rationale to others.
- Employ language and terminology of communication
processes and communication tools.
Social Studies:
- To provide an opportunity to obtain a global view
of climatic change.
- To obtain an awareness of the social issues and
challenges presented by this phenomenon.
- To explore weather patterns, the people who study
weather, and the instruments used in this
process.
- To develop an understanding of various career
opportunities related to the field of
meteorology.
Science (General Learner Outcomes):
- Appreciation of the need for technical devices
and processes to serve human needs.
- Appreciation of the contribution of science to
the solution of practical problems.
- Awareness of alternatives in the approach to
technological problems.
- Willingness to take the initiative in dealing
with practical problems.
- Confidence in using scientific and technological
knowledge for informed personal decision making.
Evaluation
Students will carefully be monitored to determine if
they have successfully achieved the Learning Outcomes of
the project. Anecdotal records of the lead teachers
regarding student performance will be based on
observations of students while in the computer lab.
All students will be expected to keep updated reports
on their on-line investigations, findings, etc., and
emphasis will be placed on their research skills. They
will also be evaluated on their final presentations to
the rest of their junior high peers (i.e., oral/visual
presentation).
We feel that this project will greatly enhance the
students' ability to effectively use the Internet as a
valuable and accessible educational tool.
|
