The Outdoor Classroom
Recent advances in mobile computing for the field sciences
A workshop with funding from the ACM Mellon FaCE Project and the NITLE Instructional Innovation Fund.
Go to: Workshop overview ... Call for participants ... Workshop scope ... Proposed workshop schedule
Workshop overview
This workshop will bring together faculty members in the field sciences (e.g., archaeology, ecology, geology, environmental science) for a workshop and discussion of how GPS-enabled field computers can enhance their teaching and research.
The event will be held at Lawrence University's Bjorklunden Vid Sjon, located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Door County, Wisconsin. The workshop will begin on the evening of Tuesday, June 16 and will conclude in the afternoon on Thursday, June 18. A proposed schedule is included below.
The workshop is open to faculty and staff from ACM colleges and from colleges participating in NITLE who are interested in utilizing mobile computing technologies. See below for information about participating.
Workshop scope
The advent of inexpensive global positioning systems (GPSs); powerful, mobile computers; and wireless communication have the potential to revolutionize the way field-based science courses are conceived and delivered. Faculty who attend this workshop will consider how these new technologies enable improved curricula.
Specific sessions will be devoted to the following:
The development and critique of exercises for use in archaeology, ecology, geology, or environmental science courses
- How are you using or how would you like to use GPS-enabled field computers?
- Why do you use this technology or why are you considering change?
- How do you know if these technologies enhance student understanding?
- When is use of this technology unnecessary or inappropriate?
Hands-on exercises to allow participants to test field computers in the great outdoors
- How can field computers complement traditional exercises in introductory-level science courses?
- What is the learning curve associated with field computers and associated software?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of TabletPCs and handhelds?
The technical, logistical, and financial challenges of utilizing, obtaining, and maintaining field computers
- What level of technical support is needed?
- What are the start-up and ongoing financial costs of field computers?
- What are the maintenance considerations for GPS-enabled field computers?
The use of mobile technologies in student-faculty research collaborations
- How can field computers streamline data collection?
- How can field computers improve data consistency?
- What is the impact on students in terms of learning and preparedness for post-graduate work?
Best teaching practices and other helpful resources for the use of mobile computing technologies
- What are the special considerations to keep in mind when designing and implementing exercises that utilize mobile technologies?
- What teaching resources already exist?
- How can we build a community of users?
Proposed workshop schedule
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
3:00 pm - Shuttle Leaves from Outagamie Airport
4:00 pm - Shuttle stops at Green Bay Airport
6:00-8:00 pm - Welcome mixer and dinner with Plenary Speaker, Peter Knoop (University of Michigan)
Wednesday, June 17
8:00-8:30 am - Continental Breakfast
8:30-8:45 am - Outline of workshop
8:45-9:30 am - Group discussion: introductions and interests
9:30-10:00 am - Overview of hands-on activities
10:00-10:20 am - Break
10:20-12:00 noon - Hands-on activities using computers in the field
12:00-1:00 pm - Lunch and opportunity for informal interaction among workshop participants
1:00-3:00 pm - Disciplinary discussions: development and/or review of exercises
3:00-3:30 pm - Break
3:30-4:30 pm - Panel discussion of the technical, logistical, and financial challenges of utilizing, obtaining, and maintaining field computers
6:00-7:00 pm - Dinner
7:00-9:00 pm - 3-D Visualization of Earth's surface with ArcGIS and Google Earth
Thursday, June 18
8:00-8:30 am - Continental Breakfast
8:30-9:30 am - The use of mobile technologies in faculty-student research
9:30-10:30 am - Disciplinary discussions: development and review and of exercises
10:30-11:00 am - Break
11:00- 12:00 noon - Disciplinary group progress reports
12:00-12:30 pm - Wrap-up discussion: best teaching practices and conclusion of workshop
12:30 - 1:30 pm - Lunch
1:30 pm - Shuttle leaves (Green Bay arrival approx. 3:15 pm; Appleton arrival approx. 4 pm).
For additional information, go to the workshop webpage or contact the workshop organizers.