Teaching with Data - NSTA 2010 Costa Rica

Teaching with Data

In the Rainforest?

Last Daily Download• How can we take this experience back?– In support of the NSTA international charter • Do it with Data!• Sound level data!

Weather Data

• Identify the Biome– What can 24 hours of weather data tell us about

the climate?– What can the climate tell us about the flora and

fauna?

Water Quality

• How was your experience with Monteverde?• How was this different/similar to what we did

in Tortuguero and Arenal?– Less parameters (more protocol driven)– More organized (connections to organizations)– Biological component

Water Quality is a great international project!

• All grade levels– pH strips at elementary– GIS mapping in college

• Multi-disciplinary– Earth and Environmental– Biology– Chemistry

• Community involvement• Government connections• Grant opportunities

Summary of the Data• What is the quality of your local stream?

air temp bar. Pres temp w DO pH cond sal nitrate phosammonia hardness alkal turbid

tortuguero dock 28.5 29.72 27.2 5.7 8.69 2658 0 0.36 0.17 0.12 150 70 4.2

river convergence 28.9 29.72 28.4 7.1 8.49 533 0 0.41 0.28 0.04 55 60 12

canal 28.4 29.72 27.9 6.8 8.69 246 0 0.35 0.32 0.02 85 50 8.1

lower pool (pond) 8.46 1928 0.14 375 720 7

swim up bar 6.98 1686 0.16 400 640 9.3

top pool 8.19 1899 0.17 0.17 500 800 14.8

Movteverde 21.3 18.6 7.7 6.55 39

Soil/Weather/Light

• Reflections

Final Thoughts…