Inquiry-Based Methods of Earth Science Instruction Using Weather Satellite Imagery

Since 1992, the Florida EXPLORES! (EXPloring and Learning the Operations and Resources of Environmental Satellites!) has been providing direct readout and world-wide web (WWW)-based support for K-12 teachers throughout the state of Florida. NOAA weather satellites are exploited for their 4 km resolution infrared and visible imagery, via direct broadcast from satellite to school. The WWW has been used to expand the reach of the program beyond Florida, and to provide supplemental information for our project participants.

Through informal and formal collaborations with colleagues in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at FSU, and working directly with science education undergraduate and graduate students, we have increasingly developed activities which fit into the research theory of "constructivism," where students use inquiry-based techniques to develop their own comprehension of scientific principles. Teachers are continuing learners and facilitators in this mode.

The techniques learned and applied in our K-12 outreach program have naturally followed into our liberal studies curriculum. In 1996, the format of the undergraduate liberal studies introductory laboratory course was changed, and the number of sections vastly expanded. In addition, courses for inservice and preservice teachers of elementary, middle, and secondary school education were developed in collaboration with colleagues in Geology, Oceanography, and Physics. Our most recent venture is the offering of a graduate course for preservice teachers in Earth Science for teachers in Dade County (500 miles away), via distance learning.

These programs will be described and in particular the use of weather satellite imagery and processing techniques to discuss problems in meteorology, oceanography, physics, mathematical sciences, geography, and even industrial and language arts, are emphasized. NOAA satellites provide the nucleus of much of the content in these courses. Students and teachers learn image processing and interpretation skills, as they develop self-confidence in their abilities as amateur meteorological analysts.