The manipulatives of geoscience education

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The manipulatives of geoscience education
Using data and scientific visualization in the
classroom

• S. Raj Chaudhury
• Director, B.E.S.T. Lab
• Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA
• schaudhury_at_nsu.edu

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With ideas from

• Daniel Edelson, Ph.D.
• Institute for Learning Sciences
• Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
• d-edelson_at_nwu.edu

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Characterizing students
Sf
Si
Initial State
Final State
HOW?
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One model for learning

• Do any students think like this?
• Write down every equation law/fact put on the
  board by the instructor
• Memorize these together with the list of formulas
  at the end of the chapter
• Do enough homework to recognize which formula
  applies to which problem
• Pass the exam by selecting the correct formulas
  for the problems on the exam
• Erase everything in the brain after the test to
  make room for the next set of equations/laws/facts

This model can be pretty successful
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A Systematic Approach

• What does the student know?
• How does the student think?

Si

• What must the student know?
• How must the student think?

Sf
What is the role of data scientific
visualizations?
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Theoretical Framework

• How People Learn (Bransford et. al., NRC)
• Principle of Constructivism
• Students build their knowledge by processing the
  information they receive making connections
  between what they know and what they are learning
• Classroom Practice
• Guided Inquiry
• teacher practice
• curriculum development

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Essential Features of Inquiry

• Learners are ENGAGED by sci.- oriented questions
• Learners give priority to EVIDENCE, which allows
  them to develop and evaluate explanations
• Learners formulate EXPLANATIONS from evidence
• Using appropriate tools including math
  technology
• Learners EVALUATE their explanations in light of
  scientific understanding
• Learners COMMUNICATE and justify their
  explanations.

Adapted from Edelson et. al. and NSES
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The Competent Inquirer can

• Identify questions and concepts that guide
  scientific investigations
• Design and conduct scientific investigations
• Use technology and mathematics to improve
  investigations and communications
• Formulate and revise scientific explanations
  and models using logic and evidence
• Recognize and analyze alternative explanations
  and models
• Communicate and defend a scientific argument

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January
Monthly Incoming Solar Energy
June
W/m2
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Design considerations for tools

• Experts notice features and meaningful patterns
  of information
• Experts have acquired a great deal of knowledge
  that is organized
• Experts knowledge reflects context of
  applicability
• Experts are able to retrieve important aspects of
  their knowledge with little effort

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Investigating SeasonsWorldWatcher Tool for
Learners

• Access relevant satellite data sets
• Graphical display of data sets
• Quantitative comparison of data sets
• Easy creation of new data sets
• Addition of contextual data
• DIFFERS FROM TOOLS FOR EXPERTS

WorldWatcher is available at http//www.worldwat
cher.nwu.edu/ Edelson et. al.
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DEMO NOW
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Data in the classroom

• Data Sci. Viz. have clear benefits, but
• What is the cognitive load on the student?
• What is being asked of the student?
• Multiple Representations in science
• Example from Physics
• Example from Atmospheric Science

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Multiple Representations - Physics
Adapted from Teaching Physics, Joe Redish
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Multiple Representations - AS
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MyWorld

• GIS for K-12 students
• Subset of experts operations
• Reduce student involvement with operating system
• Java-based, Mac, Windows, Linux
• Reduce options available to students at any one
  time segmented design
• Support inquiry goals and science goals

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Lessons from Geo-data efforts

• Have students actually analyze data, not just
  look at it (manipulatives)
• Create web site that makes data accessible and
  usable, not just for viewing maps of phenomena
• Build in hooks to live data sources
• Reduce complexity
• Build a community of curriculum developers
• How to make the promise a reality?

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Questions?

• Demo available for MyWorld WorldWatcher