Students will utilize factually observed or researched information in a creative high interest-writing project.

Vital Ice STEM Kit. The Natural Sciences Education & Outreach Center collaborates with CSU faculty, National Parks and citizen science programs to translate their current scientific research into unique STEM experiences for students in the form of Educational Kits that can be checked out. Each kit contains just about all of the materials needed (minus common things like water and paper towels) to explore some really interesting scientific research topics.The kits are available for teachers and informal educators in Colorado to check out for a duration of a week by submitting either a local pickup form or a delivery form available at the linked website. This kit is provided free for educational use. This Kit is available in Spanish. Global Surface Temperatures: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/283054052/

In this service-learning engineering project, students follow the steps of the engineering design process to design a hearing testing device. More specifically, they design a prototype machine that can be used to test the peripheral vision of partially-blind, pre-verbal children. Students learn about the basics of vision and vision loss. They also learn how a peripheral vision tester for adults works (by testing the static peripheral vision in the four quadrants of the visual field with four controllable lights in specific locations). Then they modify the idea of the adult peripheral vision tester to make it usable for testing young children. The class designs and builds one complete prototype, working in sub-groups of four or five students each to build sub-components of the project design.

Given the extensive literature on the composition and evolution of continental crust there are a number of teaching strategies that can be employed to encourage active learning by students. A critical reading of this collection of articles will provide students with a good opportunity to evaluate the chemical isotopic and physical evidence that has led to the development of these models of continental crustal growth. These instructional approaches build on recommendations from Project 2061, Science for all Americans:
1) Start with questions about nature.
2) Engage students actively.
3) Concentrate onthe collection and use of evidence.
4) Provide historical perspectives.
5) Use a team approach.
6) Do not separate knowing from finding out.
A compilation from the primary literature has been provided (see the reference list at the end of this web page: http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/earlyearth/questions/crust.html), along with guiding questions for deeper exploration and discovery. Recommended instructional methods include: jigsaw method, role playing or debates (have each student play the role of Richard Armstrong, Ross Taylor, William Fyfe...), reading the primary literature, or problem-based learning (which is purposefully ambiguous and addresses questions that require independent discovery).

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In this assignment students use real world data to solve an applied problem in geomorphology. They use ArcGIS and time sequential aerial photography to determine when a marina on Lake Mead must be moved to avoid problems of sedimentation related to a major drawdown of the lake. Students must estimate the rate of delta progradation and come up with a timeframe for when the marina will become unusable. It is set up as a realistic consulting project, based on a project completed by the author.

Students selected one of six stratigraphic units that nominally could contribute quartzite clasts to a Tertiary conglomerate in southern Nevada. They read Goetze and Lewis's (1994) paper on using trace element geochemistry on quartz sands then performed a literature search related to their unit and read relevant papers related to their unit. Students collected samples from their stratigraphic unit and prepared them for microprobe analysis. They reduced the data from their samples and then analyzed the data as a combined set to determine if their units geochemical signature was unique compared to other units. They then statistically compared their unit to the clasts of unknown origin from the Tertiary conglomerate. This project gave the students experience in finding conducting a literature search, collecting and preparing samples for analyses, manipulating data within Excel, comparing data statistically, explaining their data to other students int he class, and preparing talks and a poster.

(Note: this resource was added to OER Commons as part of a batch upload of over 2,200 records. If you notice an issue with the quality of the metadata, please let us know by using the 'report' button and we will flag it for consideration.)

For this project, students read Goetze and Lewis (1994) paper on trace element geochemistry of quartz-rich sandstones. They then select one of six possible stratigraphic units, find relevant literature related to their unit, and formulate sampling strategies. In class they are provided microprobe geochemical and cathodoluminescence data and manipulate/interpret it in order to reach conclusions. They answer questions regarding both the provenance of clasts from a young conglomerate as well as commenting on the validity of the data. Students learn how to manipulate and analyze data, how to make a scientific poster, and how to prepare and give an oral presentation

(Note: this resource was added to OER Commons as part of a batch upload of over 2,200 records. If you notice an issue with the quality of the metadata, please let us know by using the 'report' button and we will flag it for consideration.)

Students experience the engineering design process as they design and construct lower-leg prostheses in response to a hypothetical zombie apocalypse scenario. Like the well-known Apollo 13 story during which engineers were challenged to fix the crippled spacecraft with limited supplies in order to save astronauts' lives, in this activity, students act as engineers during an imaginary disaster in which a group member's leg was amputated in order to survive a zombie attack. Building on what they learned and researched in the associated lesson, they design and fabricate a replacement prosthetic limb using given specific starting material and limited additional supplies, similar to how engineers design for individuals while working within constraints. A more-advanced scenario challenges students to design a prosthesis that is able to provide a more-specific movement function.

The project partnership involves five schools from Finland, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia and the coordinating school from Spain and we aim to prepare students for a society dominated by technology and equip them with competences and knowledge built on digital literacy and foreign language skills which can give them the opportunity to implement mobility both within European education and labour market. We want this project to teach our students to become European citizens actively involved in a digitalized society and we are convinced that by providing our students with better digital skills, they will have better job opportunities in the European market as well as a sense of responsibility in terms of technology use.

We also aim to promote education for volunteering as a component of European active behaviour since students will learn how to better work in teams, develop leadership and problem-solving skills, and do volunteer work. This is not only essential for schoolwork but also for further involvement in the community. Therefore, throughout the project there will be practical volunteering activities performed by students, parents and teachers of all partner schools at local and international level.

We also have a concern for disadvantaged students and underachievement, so as teachers we have a need to improve our teaching skills to develop innovative approaches and practices that contribute to the implementation of inclusive methodologies and also to a greater achievement of our students’ basic skills. We want to enhance our digital skills in order to motivate our students and address diversity with the use of innovative ICT tools.

To achieve our aims all schools have agreed on the following objectives:

- Develop and enhance digital literacy, skills and inclusion.

- Make students aware of the need to make a safe use of new technologies and promote a responsible and respectful digital behaviour.

- Increase the European civic competences and behaviour through volunteering.

- Cooperate and exchange good practices and innovative methods to motivate and engage students with the help of ICT tools

- Enhance language skills in first and second languages as well as intercultural competences to improve the student’s command in ICT and skills for work.

- Promote digital training for students and teachers in the use of open educational resources (OER).

The activities have been planned in a way that the project covers the nine elements of Digital Citizenship, namely Digital Access , Digital Commerce, Digital Communication, Digital Literacy, Digital Etiquette, Digital Law, Digital Rights and Responsibilities, Digital Health and Wellness and Digital Security.

Our project includes activities involving participating and working together on tasks at national level and others with students from the five schools of the partnership collaborating and working jointly during mobilities. They will mainly be implemented in the form of non-formal learning, using tools that are the most suitable for assessing the acquired knowledge and skills.

As regards the beneficiaries of the project, the target groups will go through a transparent selection process to take part in the mobilities, but project activities will also involve teachers, students’ families, volunteer students, outside partners, foundations, local authorities and communities for a better impact and dissemination.

We expect tangible and intangible results. Students will have an online portfolio where they collect all the materials created – at the end of the project, based on their work and a test, a digital driver’s licence will be awarded – it will later be used for other students as well and incorporated in the curriculum. Students will take part in debate sessions on topics related to project work during student exchanges.

· Teachers will learn new ways to motivate students with mobile and ICT tools. They will create a manual of their teaching practice on digital citizenship and tools for different educational purposes in different subjects.

The project will have an impact on the students’ future development as the skills acquired will contribute to the improvement of their academic achievements and entering the world of work.

The European dimension will be reinforced as a result of the sustainable cooperation of the five partner schools. Mobilities, methodological changes, and the internationalization of the institutions will mark a turning point at school level after the European experience and will serve as the basis for future cooperation. The project will also help create long-lasting synergies with institutions and collaborating partners in the activities at local, regional and international level. We will seek opportunities for carrying on joint activities based on our project findings and will take part in a new eTwinning or another international project trying to involve as many new members as possible