Monday, 21 May 2012

Create custom geology maps–#fschack news

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I like iGeology (even got to see a Beta version of the 3D '# Augmented reality version hopefully coming soon) and I was thrilled to meet the team behind it and other British Geological Survey goodness.  One thing I really do love is the new(ish) ability to create custom geological maps that can be centred on a particular location. Such as this one based around Year 10’s fieldwork location:

 

At the moment, the options are limited to surface geology and earthquakes, but there is the potential to add all sorts of data in the future if there is demand.

#fschack

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Breakfast time at the first ever Field Studies Council Hack Day/Weekend, working on my lightning talk and feeling out of my depth (great toast though).

48 hours later and I was leaving the Slapton Lee FSC Centre buzzing with possibilities and genuinely fizzing with goose bumpy potential.  This post will be a little messy as I’m getting these ideas down as they form.

I had no idea what a hack day involved before I stepped foot into the arena.  I was sceptical as so many ‘tech-ed’ conferences fizz with potential but rarely turn in to reality.  From the moment #fschack started, I was taken back by the positive fizz of excitement and hard work.  Plus, after being frustrated for years about the lack of good technology to use in the field, I left having seen at least a dozen worked up prototypes and apps.  Three of which I could see working in my setting now.

I helped to set off the day by presenting some challenges from my perspective, then visited a few ‘bar camps’ which are 10-15 minute spur of the moment chats.  Having never been to an unconference, I really liked this format.  It seemed to give the developers a clear insight into the issue.  I was also impressed with the questions coming from the hackers.

In summary, the challenges I tried to present were:

  • Technology shouldn't detract from the awe and wonder and exploration of the world;
  • It would be great to be able to visualise data in the field in order to stretch and support students
  • Off line and works
  • Data rich is great
  • I want students to focus on the in depth analysis of data

If we take the enquiry process, and especially apply it to the Controlled Assessment process, the gap between when the data is collected and when it is processed or visualised is far too long, even if it’s later that day.

Enquiry poster

It was great to see that the resultant hacks all improved learning, and it was clear that the concept of having technology that adds value to learning was central.  For example, several of the hackers talked about the importance of getting young people to do things the ‘hard’ way before using the quick solution.

I also came away with a clear message: young people should be involved in building scientific equipment.  More on this below.

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Finally, there was some powerful visualisation methods for existing data that would assist students in exploring data.

Some of the hacks that I was either involved with or stuck in my head are described below.  Check out the blog for a blow by blow account including podcasts and interviews and a full list of hacks.

1. The bat men

Created a bat detector for under a fiver.

2. RepRap 3D Beach printing.

photo (95)We conducted some beach profiles on Slapton Sands (hard work I know but someone had to take the hit…). Gemma created a 3D model and printed out cross sections.  This has huge potential as the 3D cross sections show subtle changes in the beach profile and could be used to compare different stretches of the same beach, sections after storm events…. In terms of helping less able students to visualise their data this would be fantastic.   How good would it be to create 3D models of the beaches which we study? The equipment is affordable, and the training in using the CAD software achievable.

3. FLAIR (Field Log Analysis Instant Resource)

photo (91)I loved this and it won the best in (the) field hack.  A web app that collects and visualises data.  River cross sections were used, the app would replace a clipboard, worked off line and guided students through the data collection process.  The data can be seen in graph form immediately.  This would allow data quality to be checked and would act as an incentive for students if the patterns were correct.  The app also graphed the data allowing students to focus on the patterns.  As mentioned above, this would augment the traditional data collection and presentation process and make data more accessible to all students.  Traditional techniques of measurement are used also.

4. Floggr (Field Logger) and Bristol HackSpace’s range of stuff

photo (93)These two project hit me like a bulldozer. A lightbulb went off. Ting!  It dawned on me that students could a) build their own equipment and b) gain more and better data in this way. More on this in time, but this has cross curricular written all over it

 

 

 

5. Geocaching

Explored the possibility of using geocaches with hacked stuff to enable assessment / options / auto lock down.

6. River Crunching

This took historical river data and visualised it.  There was a collective ‘ahhhhh’ when channel cross sections were shown as a graph that morphed between different times and sites.  The changes in channel shape were immediately obvious as we travelled downstream.  A side effect was that different data sets (all collected by students) gave different results and this would allow the easy exploration of data and data capture quality.

All in all. Excellent, and it;’s only the beginning as I type there is an idea for a student built volcano bomber,……..

A big thank you to Harriet, Ant and everyone there.  I arrived a sceptic and left inspired.

Digital Explorer mini-expedition: Oceans @de_Updates

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Jamie and Sarah from Digital Explorer popped down to Portsmouth on Friday to work with some of our students linked to their excellent Oceans project.  The idea was to run a mini-expedition during which young people explored the issue of sea level rise.

IMG_3289 Firstly, we found some of the only sandy beach in Portsmouth and created housing developments.  Students were sored on how many developments were left standing at high tide.  Let’s just say, there weren’t many to make Jamie’s judging job too difficult….

Next, some experiments were demonstrated in order to explore the effects of polar ice melting and thermal expansion of our seas.  Both of these experiments were put together with simple equipment available from our science lab techs and shop bought.

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After some plastic combing, it was off to a classroom to work out the actual projections for sea level rise in Portsmouth and then a walk along some of the sea defences to reflect on whether Portsmouth City Council are doing enough to stop the problem.

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We wondered if this development was really a good idea!

Overall, I was impressed with the mini-expedition and pupils’ understanding improved.  The activities are easily embeddable within a coastal / oceans unit. All of the experiments (apart from the sand castle building) could be replicated in a classroom / school site setting.  We’ll be doing so at Priory for sure.  My eyes have certainly been opened to how we can teach physical geography and complex concepts and processes better.

A big thank you to Jamie and Sarah!

Saturday, 19 May 2012

FSC Hack Day - kick off


FSC Hackday challenges
View more presentations from David Rogers.


Feeling more than a little apprehensive and out of my depth at the moment as we wait for the start of FSC Hack Day.  This weekend event is being held at the FSC's Slapton Ley centre and aims to create technology solutions to support learning outside.

I was given five minutes in which to outline some of the challenges from a secondary geography teacher's point of view.

Wednesday, 16 May 2012

@priorygeography–behind the scenes

I took a ridiculous amount of photographs yesterday, mainly of the 'unseen’ parts of the department.  I’m always wary of people’s imaginations about what we get up to, so maybe these will dispel a few myths Winking smile

A day–Picture Today Inspire Tomorrow

I spotted the ‘aday’ project on BBC Breakfast.  My contributions can be found on my profile here and follow some of my activities during a working day.

Sunday, 13 May 2012

Met Office iPhone App

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I’ve used the Met Office’s iPhone app as my preferred weather app for a while now.  Recently discovered that you can get these rather nifty pressure maps.  Combined with a visualiser it allows some funky exploration of the weather.