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

Published: 02 April 2005 Publication History

Abstract

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.

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

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      cover image ACM Conferences
      CHI EA '05: CHI '05 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems
      April 2005
      1358 pages
      ISBN:1595930027
      DOI:10.1145/1056808
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      Published: 02 April 2005

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      Author Tags

      1. embedded phenomena
      2. learning technologies
      3. simulation

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      • (2019)Developing a smart classroom infrastructure to support real-time student collaboration and inquiry: a 4-year design studyInstructional Science10.1007/s11251-019-09486-1Online publication date: 26-Apr-2019
      • (2017)Thoughts on Effective Learning Procedure for Tangible Learning Environment Based on Embodied DesignHuman-Computer Interaction. Interaction Contexts10.1007/978-3-319-58077-7_26(331-340)Online publication date: 14-May-2017
      • (2016)Facilitator, Functionary, Friend or Foe?Proceedings of the 2016 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/2858036.2858251(1833-1845)Online publication date: 7-May-2016
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      • (2011)Learning about earthquakes: getting serious about authenticity in computer-supported learningInteractive Learning Environments10.1080/1049482090303200419:3(285-302)Online publication date: Jun-2011
      • (2010)Public displays and mobile devices in an augmented objects framework for Ubiquitous LearningIEEE EDUCON 2010 Conference10.1109/EDUCON.2010.5492403(1671-1679)Online publication date: Apr-2010
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