Online forecasting exercises in introductory meteorology courses: learning from our mistakes

The increasing frequency with which students access the Internet gives them an increased opportunity to observe and follow local and large-scale weather patterns. Using simple, interactive web sites, students can also make regular forecasts which can be scored and analyzed. We have conducted semester-long weather forecasting exercises at introductory meteorology courses at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the University of Michigan, and have tracked student progress in their ability to make informed, intelligent forecasts. In this presentation we will assess the effectiveness of the forecasting exercises, and discuss design considerations for future, improved exercises.