August 2003 — Applications
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Mobile Science Center Brings High-Tech Experimentation to Remote Parts of South Africa
"We felt the hands-on approach combined with technology had the potential to make this an unforgettable experience for students," says Horszowski. "And because PASPORT requires students to observe and measure real phenomena, analyze their own data and draw their own inferences, we felt this would give them the opportunity to understand science in a way not easily accomplished otherwise."
Over the last several months, the Mobile Science Center has traveled around the country with representatives conducting "probeware" workshops for students in disadvantaged areas. A generator is positioned about 20 meters away from the Mobile Science Center to reduce noise, and panels lift up to provide shade while students perform a variety of experiments. For example, students use a portable datalogger attached to a PASPORT Turbidity Sensor to measure the cloudiness of a local stream. They then return to the Mobile Science Center to download their data into the computer and use PASCO's DataStudio software to manipulate and analyze the data they've gathered.Using the laptop and projector on a sliding table, experiments can also be performed using a big-screen display for multiple students to watch.
The probeware allows students to collect data with just one click by simply plugging in a sensor, pushing a button and seeing data displayed in real time. "This is very beneficial because we often are under time restraints with the students, and there isn't room for a large learning curve," says Horszowski.
So far, Horszowski says the probeware has proven flexible enough to meet the needs of students at all grade levels. "Both teachers and students are initially rather overwhelmed by the equipment," he says. "But considering there are very low levels of computer literacy, it's no doubt there are some barriers to cross. However, good facilitators often overcome these difficulties."
According to Horszowski, Edusoft hopes to design more of the units this year, eventually adding solar panels for power and a satellite linkup for Internet connectivity. But, for now, the Mobile Science Center will continue to travel the roads of South Africa bringing high-tech science experimentation to places that are without electricity. More importantly, it will continue to bring science out of the textbooks and into students' lives.
For more information on Mobile Science Centers, also known as Edutrailers, visit www.pert.co.za/edutrailer.htm.
Contact Information
PASCO
(800) 772-8700
www.pasco.com
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