Education ForeCAST Tipsheet
|
The GLOBE program:
Exploring the Environment
Its called GLOBE, and each day it brings data from schools around
the world onto the Internet and into the global science community. Students
from the ages of approximately five through eighteen
years in schools throughout the world conduct a continuing program of
scientifically meaningful environmental measurements. GLOBE students
transmit their data to a central data processing facility via the
Internet, receive vivid images composed of their data and data from other
GLOBE schools around the world, acquire information from a variety of
sources, and collaborate with scientists and other GLOBE students and
communities worldwide in using these data for education and research.
The measurements taken by the GLOBE students serve two important
purposes. First, participating scientists use these data in their
research programs to improve our understanding of the global environment.
Second, students not only learn how to carry out a scientifically
rigorous program of Earth observations, but also learn to use their own
measurements, together with data from other GLOBE schools, as a key part
of their study of environmental science. Through contact with and
mentoring by scientists, the students receive feedback about the value of
their data sets in world class scientific research.
GLOBE provides extensive educational materials to enrich the learning
experience of participating students. These materials include a wide
variety of classroom and field activities to help students place their
measurements in a broader context and relate their own local observations
to global environmental issues.
Using state-of-the-art technology, GLOBE creates a forum for students to
communicate with their peers around the world, thus fostering alliances
among students and increasing not only their environmental understanding
but also their understanding of other cultures and their sense of global
community.
Students in GLOBE-affiliated classrooms make environmental observations
at or near their schools and report their data through the Internet.
Outside of Ross Elementary School east of Dupont Circle in Washington D.C.
there's a small garden behind a chain linked fence. Each school day,
fifth graders go there to check their weather station and jot down a few
temperatures. Students like eleven year olds Anita and Oscar and their
classmates also observe the level of rain that's fallen and what kind of
clouds are visible. Then they'll go back to their classroom and type the
information into the internet... the part Oscar enjoys the
most. Oscar has learned that pollution in his neighborhood contributes
to dirty water and air, and he's decided to do something about it. "Where I
live the alley is full of trash...and me and my brother be cleaning it
up...because we want to save the environment, and our cat."
Scientists use GLOBE data in their research and provide feedback to the
students to enrich their science education. Global images based on GLOBE
student data are displayed on the World Wide Web, enabling students and
other visitors to visualize the student environmental observations.
GLOBE chief scientist Dixon Butler says by taking a more progressive
approach to teaching science students are more likely to excel. "This is a
change in the way you learn and understand science.
There's no question from GLOBE students why they need to learn math
and science because they've got a reason to put those to use in
looking at their own data," says Dixon. "They can see something in a
concrete way that goes beyond the class and the book and even the image
on the web, as wonderful as those are."
GLOBE Emphasizes Educational Reform Goals
Students following the GLOBE curriculum
engage in: GLOBE meets National and State Educational Goals GLOBE science and education activities help students reach higher levels of achievement in science and math. GLOBE helps to increase the environmental awareness of all individuals while increasing our scientific understanding of the earth.
Listen to the Education ForeCAST piece on
GLOBE from
WAMU-FMDownload a free copy of Real Audio here 
|
How GLOBE helps teachers
GLOBE provides training and professional development
support for teachers using the curriculum:
Chapters in the curriculum include four domains of direct
investigation:
And two supportive investigations:
For information or assistance on GLOBE programs, call toll-free in the
U.S. 1-800-858-9947 or e-mail info@globe.gov or help@globe.gov
For contact with other schools that have integrated technology into their
science curricula for the study of the environment, explore the
following websites:
|
The Classroom Experience
Atmosphere, daily
measurements of air temperature, cloud cover, and
precipitation