WaterBot users and friends,
The EPA announced that it is inviting the public to submit information related to hydraulic fracturing, in support of its study on the potential impact on drinking water resources throughout the country. This could include: data, studies, scientific analyses and other pertinent scientific information. This will support the EPA to inform current and future research and ensure a robust record of scientific information. Check the Federal Register for more information. We encourage all citizen scientists out there to submit your data and stories.
Deadline is 4/30/2012.
I am a first grade teacher on a scientific research team deployed at Palmer Station, Antarctica. We are here studying a wingless fly called Belgica antarctica. It is the southernmost, free-living insect in Antarctica and it's the largest animal that remains on land throughout the year. As the team's educational outreach coordinator, I used Gigapan technology to connect students in my school district as well as nationally with scientific research taking place at the bottom of the world. Antarctic Gigapan images can be found on my team's outreach blog at www.crestwoodexplorestheworld.org along with descriptive information and scavenger hunt challenges. Gigapan gives (preschool-grade 12) students an opportunity to explore detailed images of the Antarctic environment, provoking thoughtful questions and higher levels of learning.
On June 26, 2011, I presented GigaPan as part of a joint technology panel with the Excellence Through Classics Committee and the National Committee for Latin & Greek at the American Classical League Summer Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I enjoy sharing ideas using technology in the classroom especially with Classics teachers. Using GigaPan is great way to integrate technology and bring the study of the ancient past to life.
Conference attendees, learned how to explore panoramas using the gigapan.org website and the process of taking snapshots and leaving comments. The display of a large gigapan print of the Roman Forum generated lots of interest and allowed attendees to participate in dialogues throughout the conference. They were invited to attach sticky notes to the print in English or Latin, creating a truly interactive exhibit.
There were comments about objects in the panorama, observations about the weather, plant life and architecture. There was even a recommendation on a place to eat near the Forum. Above an image of young girl, someone wrote, “Ecce! In pictura est puella.” (Look! In the picture is a girl.) Attendees would read the post and laugh. They recognized the famous first line in Ecce Romani – a Latin textbook. Notes also included drawings; someone had “rebuilt” the deteriorated sculptural form on the top of a column to restore Rome to all its glory.
GigaPan.org is a wonderful resource for teachers of all disciplines!
Special thanks to the Committee on Latin in Elementary Schools of the National Committee for Latin & Greek, Frank Neuperger, photographer, and the CREATE Lab at Carnegie Mellon University - with special thanks to Clara Phillips.
This is an animoto with images, audio and video clips from the event:
Zee Ann Poerio, Teacher-St. Louise de Marillac School
Chair for the Committee on Latin in Elementary Schools, National Committee for Latin & Greek