Water What-ifs
Web Mini-workshop

As this information source continues to grow, it is important for you to be able to access the information needed as efficiently as possible. This tutorial from Instructional Psychology and Technology 286 Telecommunications at Brigham Young University contains numerous helpful suggestions to help you navigate efficiently on the web. Once you have completed this navigation lesson (which is outside of our web site), use the back button to return to this tutorial.

Web Objectives

After completing the tutorial you should be able to

Once you have collected water quality data, you should be able to add it to the data form and submit it to the database. This can be accomplished by clicking the "Submit Data" link on the homepage of Water What-Ifs.
Once you are on this page, you will need to type in your school name, the city, and click on whether you are in Delaware or North Carolina. Next include your zip code and the date you and your class collected the data. In addition, add the name of the body ofwater tested and the location.

Next, add the physical characteristics of the sample by choosing from the list provided on the submit data form. These characteristics include the appearance and the odor of the sample. Next, add the temperature data. This should be in Celsius degrees. If you are using a thermometer which reads in Farenheit degrees, use the conversion chart on the temperature tutorial page to convert to Celsius degress before adding this information to the data form.

The next items are pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates and phosphates. You will need to choose from the available choices for pH and enter a numerical value for dissolved oxygen, nitrates and phosphates.

Next, list the predominant macroinvertebrate and rate your overall water quality as excellent, good, fair or poor. Lastly, determine the local land use and the land use upstream. Your choices include urban, agricultural, recreational, residential, industrial, or natural state.

Once you have recorded all the required information, click on the "Submit" button to send your data to the database.

Note:To determine the latitude and longitude of your collection site, visit the Census Bureau's US Gazeteer. Remember to use your browser's Back button to return here.

                              Practice Submit Data Form

School Name

City

State-DE or NC

Zip Code

Date Data Collected

Name of the body of water to be tested

Location of the body of water

Latitude

Longitude

Appearance of water sample- clear or cloudy

Odor of water sample-no odor, fishy, rotten egg, sewage or chlorine

Temperature of water sample (Celsius)

pH - 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0 or 9.5

Dissolved Oxygen - from 1-10 ppm (may be in tenths, for example: 9.2, etc.)

Nitrates-N - <0.2, 0.2, 0.4. 0.6, or 1.0 ppm (This number should be recorded and
submitted before it is multiplied by 4.4)

Phosphates - <0.2, 0.2, 0.4. 0.6, or 1.0 ppm

Predominant Macroinvertebrate

Overall Water Quality (excellent, good, fair or poor)

Local Land Use (urban, agricultural, recreational, residential, industrial
or natural state)

Land Use Upstream (urban, agricultural, recreational, residential,
industrial or natural state) 

                    Submit

Next, you can access your data and the data submitted by other teachers and students in your state, by clicking on the "Look at North Carolina Data" or "Look at Delaware Data." Once you click on this link, the data will appear in a box according to the date it was submitted. You may use the data in your classroom to allow your students to make comparisons of water quality in different parts of the state. In addition, comparisons may be made based on the use of the land surrounding the body of water. For more ways to use the data, see the lessons on the Water What-ifs homepage.

What is the purpose of hyperlinks in a web document?

Describe how to access water quality data which is available on the Water What-ifs web site.

Design an inquiry lesson using the water quality data found on the Water What-ifs web site.

Workshop Wrap-up

Once you have completed the mini-workshops, test your knowledge with the Water Quality Post-test. Once your completed post-test is submitted, you will receive a password which will give you and your students complete access to all areas of the Water What-ifs web site. Thanks for taking part in this research project on water quality.