WEB-BASED PROJECTS

The purpose of the SERVIT Group is to research the effects of electronic instructional delivery systems and technology tools on the learning and teaching of science.

Water What-ifs is a part of Science Junction, an interactive science web site which has the goal of creating connections between the researchers and teachers at  North Carolina State University and the teachers, parents and students of the state. Water What-ifs was created by Lisa L. Grable and April J. Cleveland for the purpose of encouraging inquiry investigations of water quality and collaboration between teachers and students. This site has been designed to be a teaching and learning tool for both teachers and students.

•  Monitor and evaluate the water quality of streams, lakes, ponds and rivers and create a database of information to be shared from year to year.

• Encourage students to develop and use critical thinking skills to determine how certain factors can change the quality of an aquatic ecosystem.

• Provide inquiry based lessons which may be used to create a water unit to supplement the water quality testing project.

• Encourage collaboration between teachers and students who may not otherwise have the opportunity to interact.

• Allow teachers to learn new skills at their convenience by providing an online tutorial on the basics of web use and water quality testing using LaMotte test kits and CBL (Calculator-Based                        Laboratories) technology.

• Provide a way for teachers to link water quality testing and the associated lessons to the National Science Education Content Standards, the North Carolina competency goals for middle school   students, the North Carolina earth and environmental science competencies and the Delaware science standards.

• Provide a research tool to determine if teachers can be taught as effectively through the use of a web tutorial as they can in a face to face workshop situation.

For More Information Contact April Cleveland or see her biography.