Data collected by students in the field

1
VIRTUAL VS. REAL HOW DO STUDENTS BEST LEARN
ABOUT ESTUARINE CIRCULATION?
Christian P. Sarason1, Frederick R. (Fritz)
Stahr1, William Winn2, Ruth Fruland2, and Peter
Oppenheimer3 1Ocean Inquiry Project, P.O. Box
23189, Seattle, WA 98102 2College of
Education, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
98195 3Human Interface Technology Laboratory,
University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195
email info_at_oceaninquiry.org
Using Data to Teach Earth Processes 46-5
Comparing Learning Between a Modeling Exercise
and Field Work on Puget Sound
Introduction
Puget Sound is a complicated estuary and an
excellent place to learn oceanography. In a
partnership program with educational researchers
at the University of Washington, Ocean Inquiry
Project (OIP) is using a virtual learning
environment based on a numerical-model of Puget
Sound in introductory college level classes. OIP
also provides students field-based research
experiences on Puget Sound, sampling the Sound at
a number of monitoring stations during day-long
field trips. The learning goals for either
technique are the same understanding and
appreciation of tidally driven currents and
stratification in the Sound. However, the data
(and tools for accessing and rendering them) are
quite different between the two techniques, one
being generated by computer and the other
measured by the students themselves. We are
evaluating classes using each technique
exclusively, as well as in combination, to
understand which technique is most useful to
understanding these concepts. The content of both
classes is essentially the same, but students in
one class learn the material by interacting with
a computer model, and students in another class
learn by interacting with instruments. The
evaluation of each class is done identically with
tests and concept maps and the design of this
study allows us to elucidate the differences
between learning via computerized curriculum and
learning in the field.
a)
One students conceptual change
Data collected by students in the field
Data collected by students in VPS
Students taking a close-up look at the CTD before
deployment.
b)
Water activities swimming, power boating,
sailing, fishing, surfing, diving, riding
ferries, and other. Low 1 activity, Medium
3-4 activities, High 5
p lt 0.05 for difference between model and field
groups for low water activity
Figure 2 a) Statistically significant
differences were found for pre-test versus
post-test scores for all students. However, no
differences were found between the model and
field groups. The most significant gains were
made in model specific questions. (a p-value of
less than 0.05 is statistically significant) b)
A comparison of scores to demographic data shows
that students in the model group who had little
experience with water activities scored
significantly worse on field specific questions
than the field group.
Students interpret circulation using Virtual
Puget Sound (VPS).
Figure 1 The rated true/false quiz that we used
for evaluation is shown above. Questions were
apportioned into field, model and classroom
groups for comparison (classroom questions are
those not specific to either field or model
experiences). Students rated each statement 5
(true) to 1 (false) 0 was used for Dont know,
a response seen mostly on pre-tests.
OIP students collect data in the field send to
bloodstream
PSMEM models assimilate data into next model run
CTD cast
source
Ocean Inquiry Project Concept
sink
Historical data
Methods
RESEARCH COMMUNITY NEEDS
Model and Data integration through Environmental
Informatics Datastream a.k.a. BloodStream
EDUCATION COMMUNITY NEEDS
Historical data
Validation of Models
Water Quality Monitoring
Stimulating Science Experiences
Learning through Inquiry
Outreach and Public Education
Hands-on Learning
OIP students view latest model results adjust
sampling plans for the future accordingly
sink
Teaching Opportunities for Graduate Students
Positive Science Experiences
Model run
Interaction with Scientists
Secchi Depth Measurements
Field Experiences
Watch for Invasive Species
Increased sampling resolution in time and space
Multi-disciplinary Learning Experiences
source
Model run
CTD cast
Teachers can view latest model runs in class
before getting into the field.
XML tagged environmental data
sink
PSMEM models send model output to bloodstream
Catalyst OIP
Ocean Inquiry Project is an independent 501(c)(3)
organization and all donations are tax
deductible. For more information about our
programs please see our web site at
http//www.oceaninquiry.org/ This work is
supported by NOPP grant number N00014-02-1-0502.
Many thanks to our volunteer field instructors,
the University of Washington, and Seattle Central
CC for providing the opportunity for this study.
Stir Well