September 28, 1999:
GLOBE Supports Student Research Projects
With data from over four years of scientific observations in the GLOBE Student Data Archive, educators are beginning to recognize the great asset GLOBE offers not only to the scientific community but also for student research efforts. In classrooms worldwide, teachers are focusing on how they can provide students with an opportunity to learn authentic science using the scientific method rather than just learning about it.Doing science is facilitated by the use of data in investigations. GLOBE provides a unique opportunity for teachers to provide students with a research experience using data they collected. "GLOBE brings the concepts of authentic learning, student-scientist partnerships, and inquiry-based education into practice on an unprecedented scale," stated GLOBE Teacher Jennifer Lockett from Mobile, Alabama.
The new emphasis on supporting student research will be manifest in the preparation of the GLOBE 2000 Teachers Guide and in future changes to the GLOBE Web site. GLOBE is also hosting a series of Research Symposiums on how to guide students in conducting their own research and designing future Training Workshops to incorporate this theme.