Title
Roomquake: embedding dynamic phenomena within the physical space of an elementary school classroom
Abstract
Authentic practice in science requires access to phenomena. In this paper, we introduce RoomQuake, an application designed to foster the growth of a community of learning around scientific practice in seismology. Rather than treating seismic activity as remote events, RoomQuake seeks to enhance salience by situating those phenomena directly in the classroom. Using fixed-position PDAs as simulated seismographs, students determine the magnitude and distance of a series of "randomly" timed events by reading characteristic waveforms and using calibrated tape measures to sweep out arcs from multiple stations until they literally collide, physically enacting mathematical trilateration. We describe our experience in a six-week unit in a fifth-grade classroom.
Year
DOI
Venue
2005
10.1145/1056808.1056992
CHI Extended Abstracts
Keywords
Field
DocType
multiple station,seismic activity,authentic practice,remote event,elementary school classroom,dynamic phenomenon,fixed-position pdas,mathematical trilateration,simulated seismograph,characteristic waveform,scientific practice,fifth-grade classroom,physical space,learning technology,simulation
Embedding,Computer science,Seismometer,Human–computer interaction,Physical space,Salience (language),Multimedia,Trilateration
Conference
ISBN
Citations 
PageRank 
1-59593-002-7
12
1.86
References 
Authors
6
4
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Tom Moher111318.08
Syeda Hussain2202.65
Tim Halter3121.86
Debi Kilb4274.11