RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2011

www.PosterPresentations.com

Suggested Materials:

• ½ inch PVC Pipe & Fittings

• Pool Noodles

• Test Pool

• PVC Cutters

• Golf Balls (eBOB)

• Flying Disks (eBOB)

• Rain Gauge (eBOB)

• Thermometers (eBOB)

• MATE Angelfish kit (ROVes)

• Shuttlecocks (ROVes)

• Plug Adaptors (ROVes)

Lessons & Resources:

www.cosee-se.org

Guide to the Elementary Basic

Observation Buoy,

www.secoora.org

NSTA Science & Children

(October 2013)

The Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence Southeast (COSEE SE) has

adapted popular buoy and remotely operated vehicle activities

for elementary students that were originally designed for middle

and high school grades. Elementary basic observation buoys

(eBOBs) are polyvinyl chloride (PVC) buoyant frames outfitted

with weather monitoring equipment. Remotely Operated

Vehicles for elementary students (ROVes) are motorized,

balanced PVC frames constructed to be neutrally buoyant and to complete mission

specific tasks. Both tools align with state and national standards incorporating science,

technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) into the classroom.

The classroom-based programs were piloted in South Carolina and Georgia over the past

few years. As part of the South Carolina Amazing Coast project, eBOBs and ROVes

included professional development and follow-on coaching for 4th and 5th grades. In

Georgia, eBOBs and ROVes programs reached formal and informal audiences, primarily

3rd- 5th grades, and offered professional development opportunities for formal and informal

educators.

The eBOB pilot reached approximately 720 3rd-5th grade students

and 60 teachers. ROVes were piloted with approximately 420 3rd-5th

grade students and 39 teachers. The eBOB and ROVes curricula and

guides include background information (form and function of

equipment), introductory activities (stability and buoyancy),

instructions for classroom implementation (material and supply lists), tips for encouraging

critical thinking and problem solving, and suggestions for integrating

real life science (buoy data and mission assignments).

Formative feedback from teachers was instrumental in the final

lessons which will be available on www.cosee-se.org.

eBOBS at a Glance

ROVes at a Glance

Project Overview & Summary

Evaluation & Feedback

Materials, Lessons, & Resources

For further information, contact:

1 University of Georgia Marine Extension Service

(UGA MAREX), GA, acbliss@uga.edu 2 South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, SC,

Elizabeth.vernon@scseagrant.org 3 North Carolina State University, cjthomas@ncsu.edu 4 COSEE SE, spencelundie@gmail.com 5 North Carolina Sea Grant,

terrikh@csi.northcarolina.edu

Funding & Acknowledgments

COSEE SE is part of the COSEE Network and is

funded by a grant from the National Science

Foundation (#1038397).

Using Elementary Basic Observation Buoys (eBOBs) and

Remotely Operated Vehicles for Elementary Students (ROVes)

to Spark 3rd-5th Grade Interests in STEM Angela Bliss1, Elizabeth Bell2, Carrie Thomas3, Lundie Spence4, and Terri Kirby Hathaway5

Special thanks to:

• The teachers and students who

helped pilot the programs. We

could not have successfully

piloted the eBOBS or ROVes

programs.

• Ben Weiss, College of Charleston

• Lemuel Patterson, Department of Defense Education

• Marine Advanced Technology Education Center

(MATE)

• Cathy Sakas, Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary

• Kim Morris Zarneke, Georgia Aquarium

Objectives:

1- Become familiar with buoys’ forms and functions.

2- Construct a buoyant PVC frame capable of

1) holding payload and

2) collecting data.

Students accomplished objectives through phases.

Phase 1: Concept Introductions Phase 2: Construction

Phase 3: Payload Challenge & Modifications

Phase 4: Deployment & Data Collection

Objectives:

1- Become familiar with remotely operated vehicles.

2- Construct a neutrally buoyant and balanced

motorized PVC frame capable of completing a

specific mission.

Students accomplished objectives through phases.

Phase 1: Concept Introductions Phase 2: Construction

Phase 3: Tests & Modifications

Phase 4: Complete Missions

Teachers’ Feedback:

• eBOBs and ROVes are “good for these ages” and “teach important concepts.”

• “Students need to be creative and solve problems, have to think, have to work with other

people.”

• “There are now additional teachers interested in working with science club because of these

projects.”

• “Students, custodians, parents, and other teachers are excited about science!”

• “ROVes open career possibilities for them.”

• “Kids got a kick out of doing something different in science.”

• “The kids had so much fun!”

• The eBOBs “were a huge hit with parents when they visited

our classroom!”

Students’ Feedback:

• “My favorite part was the thrusters.” (3rd grade)

• The most difficult part was “trying to find the right size

[pieces].” (5th grade)

• 4th grade students enjoyed when they “got to drive it [in

the] water with a remote.”

• “Test and doing the missions, also cheering on the other

teams.” (5th grade)

• “The building [is] complicated, but fun.” (5th grade)

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ROVes 3rd - 5th Grade Student Evaluations

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