Science & Technology Learning Center opens in Scott Hall
With support from the P-12 Scholars Program, the Byrd Polar Research Center (BPRC) in Scott Hall recently opened a Learning Center aimed at promoting science and technology in the classroom. The center is open to all science educators (present and future), graduate assistants, and scientists who wish to incorporate technology into their presentations. Open hours will change quarterly. The Center may be reached by calling 614-247-4571.
Dr. Bryan Mark (Geography) and Dr. Carol Landis, Education Outreach Specialist at the BPRC, are conducting research to determine the degree to which sharing a technologically rich workspace among scientists and educators will affect the types of technologies and pedagogy used in science classrooms this academic year. Additional support for the Learning Center is offered by the National Science Foundation's Science and Technology Center for the Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS) by providing a graduate research associate to assist learners with the instructional technologies that are available. Rachel Hintz, a Ph.D. student in the Math, Science, and Technology program at OSU, has developed a series of tutorials and will be happy to demonstrate the technology to visitors.
The Learning Center is equipped to offer a comfortable work area for science educators and scientists. The room offers wireless Internet, workspace for individuals or groups, and comfortable surroundings.
The Learning Center is equipped with two touch-screen Smart Boards. The SMART technology enables screen capture and conversion of handwritten notes to text! This enables the learning progression to be recorded and uploaded), for those who were absent. SMART technology also reduces the time spent waiting for images and websites to load, which makes the lessons more dynamic and efficient. It easily incorporates graphing and other interactive capabilities, increasing student participation with the lesson.
The Learning Center is also equipped with a variety of digital probes (USB connections) that collect data and display the results in both table and graph form on the computer screen. The Learning Center has the following sensors that interface with Go-Link software: pH, sound, motion, UVA and UVB, white light, temperature, and heart rate.
Video recording equipment (using mini-DVs) and tripods will be available for use in the room by science educators who wish to incorporate recorded demonstrations or presentations into their lessons.
Bring your lunch and join us for demonstrations of these technologies, and for assistance with integrating them into your lessons.