observing beyond our senses: inquiry drives technology

Observing Beyond Our Senses: Inquiry Drives TechnologyObserving Beyond Our Senses: Inquiry Drives Technology

This presentation gives an overview for using the interdisciplinary This presentation gives an overview for using the interdisciplinary science curriculum module for teaching how scientists develop, science curriculum module for teaching how scientists develop,

evaluate, and implement needed technology.evaluate, and implement needed technology.

Main question explored in this module: Main question explored in this module: What do scientists do when they do not have the technology they need to answer

questions?

Biology, Physics, Chemistry: Biology, Physics, Chemistry: interdisciplinary scienceinterdisciplinary science

A consistent thematic narrative connects students A consistent thematic narrative connects students to a real world problem...how do we accurately to a real world problem...how do we accurately measure beyond what we can sense?measure beyond what we can sense?

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Students construct understanding by making and using their own scientific measuring instruments.

Students measure, Students measure, graph and work with graph and work with

uncertainty.uncertainty.

During the final project, During the final project, students use an students use an instrument they’ve instrument they’ve made and calibrated tomade and calibrated to•assess water qualityassess water quality•to share data with their to share data with their peerspeers•prepare a water prepare a water management plan for a management plan for a saline lake with uniquesaline lake with uniqueextremophile extremophile microorganisms & microorganisms & a history of pollution.a history of pollution.

Students build and Students build and calibrate a simplecalibrate a simple

electro-opticalelectro-opticalmeasuringmeasuring

device.device.

PhotoresistorPhotoresistor

LED light sourceLED light source

Insert test tube with Insert test tube with microorganism sample heremicroorganism sample here

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Students use their electro-optical device to determine the extremophile populationdensity in samples from the test case area.

Students Students collaborate to collaborate to prepare a prepare a graphical display graphical display of their data.of their data.