Roomquake: embedding dynamic phenomena within the physical space of an elementary school classroom

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. Author Keywords Learning technologies, simulation, embedded phenomena ACM Classification Keywords H.5.3 Group and Organization Interfaces; K.3.1 Computer Uses in Education

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2005
• Where: CHI
• Authors: Tom Moher, Syeda Hussain, Tim Halter, Debi Kilb
• Keywords: CHI 2005, Human Computer Interaction, Keywords H.5.3 Group, Keywords Learning Technologies, Phenomena Acm Classification