Resource Room->Teaching->Students Collecting Data
Earthwatch - Earthwatch was founded in 1972. This non-profit group funds about 150 scientific research projects a year.The organization's focus is on the preservation of biological and cultural diversity. Volunteers are enlisted to help collect field data. Some of the current field research projects open to student groups include- a study of dolphin intelligence and communication in Hawaii; observation of bird migration from Africa to Italy in order to determine why European songbirds are disappearing; and an examination of the perhaps too successful white-tail deer population in the Shenandoah Valley. The Worldwide Network of Scientists section of Earthwatch's Web site offers any student a direct email link to many specialists as well as to photographs and field notebooks collected for specific Earthwatch studies.GREEN - The Global Rivers Environmental Education Network links watershed education programs around the world. GREEN began in the 1980's as a water quality monitoring project in the Great Lakes. Currently students investigate the health of a river in their community studying its biology, chemistry, and physical parameters as well as its history. The GREEN catalogue offers an excellent list of current books, tapes and equipment helpful in air and water quality research.
Journey North
TERC - This non-profit group researches and develops math, science and technology projects. Some of the current areas of focus are: LabNet, a networked community for K- 12 science and math educators to encourage collaboration and problem-solving in the development of innovative educational activities; and Global Lab a 7th-12th grade program in which students decide upon a problem to be studied, and are given mentors and on-line links to develop and refine their problem-solving skills. It also offers a forum for discussion of thought-provoking educational activities on or off the Web.
WeatherBug Schools Home Page - Founded in 1992, WeatherBug started in the education market by pioneering a program which installed professional-grade weather stations at schools then networked them together. The data from these stations allowed teachers to apply real-world weather conditions when teaching math, science and geography. Next, WeatherBug introduced a rigorous curriculum that met national and state education standards for grades K-12. Today more than 250,000 students and teachers log in every year for true hands on learning.