1999 Conference Attendee

Two software products developed by TERC empower students to interactively explore real-world data organized by time and geographic position.

VideoScape is a data acquisition and analysis tool which combines MBL probe measurements with synchronized video. A picture is worth a thousand words; students explore sets of data observations which are presented as graphs that are actively linked to video. As they browse through the graph data, the video displays the frame which corresponds to each data point. As they play the video, or drag the playback position to interesting moments, the corresponding data point is highlighted on the graph. The context of time-dependent measurements is immediately conveyed. Abstract data representations are suddenly rooted in reality. The computer is used to extend the studentsí s senses while maintaining a compelling visual connection to the data. Accurate probe data and flexible video playback speeds empower students to enter time realms usually unavailable to human apprehension, like time lapse observations of light and clouds in the sky, or the transient events of kids jumping under the influence of gravity. Students can also collect their own VideoScape data using MBL probes and a video capture device.

Visual Earth is a professional-strength Geographic Information System application tailored for use by students, which supports guided discovery and open-ended investigation. Visual Earthís student-friendly GIS interface concentrates on the essential GIS tools students need to investigate intriguing questions using layers of global and local data. The Visual Earth user interface includes a guided discovery mechanism for presenting multimedia material which supports the studentsí inquiry process. As students master the process of using real data to investigate a problem and deduce solutions, they can move on to open-ended research questions which draw upon a variety of available data overlays.