3.5 Science and the environment
• Modelling and simulation: digital experimentation, demographic and environmental
simulation
• Visualization: mapping
• Data search, collection, processing and analysis
• Forecasting
• Data logging
Data Logging
1. Describe what is meant by the term 'Data Logging'
2. Describe the hardware and software required to perform data logging.
3. Brainstorm and create a table of the advantages and disadvantages of data logging.
4. Discuss the use of data logging used by Science Teachers and Scientist doing research and development.
and from BBC Go Digital Archives http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4165339.stm: 30 May 2005 - Tracking waste using wireless sensors 2 May 2005- Iranian blogger Hossein Derakshan on weblogs and recycling PCs in Kenya
Watch the following clip Good Magazine: E-Waste
Also Green Peace have an interesting video about the effects of E-waste in India
1.Describe the damage that IT waste can have on the environment and people.
Watch the following ECO-IX - E-Waste video and then use this to partly answer question 2.
2. What can be done to reduce the e-waste that is currently created?
3. The European Commission Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment - what is it and what are they proposing?
4.How is IT being used to assist the collection of waste?
5. Describe the ways that a company could operate 'Green Computing'. Considering the roles and responsibilities of employees and employers, write a Green Computing Policy for a business.
GPS and GIS - what are they and how are they different? GIS - Geographical Information Systems - are the IT systems used in Geographical applications. Click on the following link: http://mapzone.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/giszone/english/ to find out more.
1. Work through GIS Focus and make your own notes on GIS.
2. Describe how GIS is being used to help the Police? The Ambulence drivers? The Water Co? Cinema owners?
3. Now you are ready for some action - try out the GIS missions.
GPS - Global Positioning System
Visit the site: http://www.trimble.com/gps/index.shtml and work through the tutorial to have an understanding about GPS
For an alternative source of information this is a little easier to understand and has a video http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gps.htm
1. Why was GPS created and by whom?
2. What is GPS and how does it work?
3. Describe how GPS is being used in real life e.g. in locating people, navigating, tracking, mapping and timing.
IT and Nature
Research how IT is being used in the environment to monitor or protect nature
Explore the Largest ever Climate Change Experiment
IT and Mapping
With developments of sites such as Google Earth; Google Maps and Windows Live Local, maps and satellite images of regions are be3.coming more readily available.
1. Explore these applications and describe the features that are available.
2. Describe how these applications can be used by the public in their everyday lives.
3. Discuss the social and ethical issues raised by Google Earth. Support your arguments with references from current news articles.
4. Mapping technology is being used by drivers to help navigate themselves from A to B. Research at least 2 products that are available e.g. TomTom and describe the features that they offer.
2.2.2 Databases and spreadsheets
Social and ethical issues
Students must study and evaluate the social and ethical issues involved in the use of spreadsheets. These may include:
In order to study and evaluate the social and ethical issues involved in the use of spreadsheets, the student must have an understanding of related technological concepts.
These may include the following.
Design and creation concepts
• Key terms—cell, cell format (number, text, value, function, calculation, date, currency), row, column, label, macro, replicate, template, worksheet, “what if” questions, range, absolute and relative reference
• Paper files versus electronic files
• Reliability and integrity of data
Storage and access concepts
• Data transfer between a database and a spreadsheet
Presentation concepts
• Select print and display area of a worksheet
• Use of the appropriate graph or chart for the meaningful representation of information
• Special-purpose spreadsheets, for example, inventory, budget
2.2.5 Modelling and simulations
Social and ethical issues
Students must study and evaluate the social and ethical issues involved in the use of modelling and simulations. These may include:
• reliability of predictions based on computer models, for example, weather, global warming
• economic effects of the use of models to design and test new products
• security issues involved in military simulations
• social impact of reliance on simulations to examine issues of public policy
• responsibility of the designer for accuracy of assumptions underlying the model
• ethical considerations involved in deciding when to use models or simulations to ensure human safety.
Knowledge of technology
In order to study and evaluate the social and ethical issues involved in the use of modeling and simulations, the student must have an understanding of related technological concepts.
These may include:
• key terms—model, simulation, feedback loop
• faulty or hidden assumptions
• extent and effect of the simplification of reality
• extent to which the phenomenon being modelled is understood
• processing power needed to create complex models
• visualization of information
• correspondence of the model with reality.
• Modelling and simulation: digital experimentation, demographic and environmental
simulation
• Visualization: mapping
• Data search, collection, processing and analysis
• Forecasting
• Data logging
Data Logging
1. Describe what is meant by the term 'Data Logging'
2. Describe the hardware and software required to perform data logging.
3. Brainstorm and create a table of the advantages and disadvantages of data logging.
4. Discuss the use of data logging used by Science Teachers and Scientist doing research and development.
The following links may help you:
Defining data logging: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/data_logging.html
General information including quizzes to try: http://www.teach-ict.com/gcse/software/datalogging/students/shome_datalogging.htm
Different uses of data logging in schools: http://www.hitchams.suffolk.sch.uk/datalogging/examples.htm
General information about data logging: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/ict/measurecontrol/3dataloggingrev1.shtml
Computer Waste
Look at the news articles with your teacher, search for yourself and view the following
India's poort tackle toxic e-waste http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/4341494.stm
and from BBC Go Digital Archives http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4165339.stm:
30 May 2005 - Tracking waste using wireless sensors
2 May 2005- Iranian blogger Hossein Derakshan on weblogs and recycling PCs in Kenya
Watch the following clip Good Magazine: E-Waste
Also Green Peace have an interesting video about the effects of E-waste in India
1.Describe the damage that IT waste can have on the environment and people.
Watch the following ECO-IX - E-Waste video and then use this to partly answer question 2.
2. What can be done to reduce the e-waste that is currently created?
3. The European Commission Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment - what is it and what are they proposing?
4.How is IT being used to assist the collection of waste?
5. Describe the ways that a company could operate 'Green Computing'. Considering the roles and responsibilities of employees and employers, write a Green Computing Policy for a business.
GPS and GIS - what are they and how are they different?
GIS - Geographical Information Systems - are the IT systems used in Geographical applications. Click on the following link:
http://mapzone.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/giszone/english/ to find out more.
1. Work through GIS Focus and make your own notes on GIS.
2. Describe how GIS is being used to help the Police? The Ambulence drivers? The Water Co? Cinema owners?
3. Now you are ready for some action - try out the GIS missions.
GPS - Global Positioning System
Visit the site: http://www.trimble.com/gps/index.shtml and work through the tutorial to have an understanding about GPS
For an alternative source of information this is a little easier to understand and has a video http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gps.htm
1. Why was GPS created and by whom?
2. What is GPS and how does it work?
3. Describe how GPS is being used in real life e.g. in locating people, navigating, tracking, mapping and timing.
IT and Nature
Research how IT is being used in the environment to monitor or protect nature
Explore the Largest ever Climate Change Experiment
IT and Mapping
With developments of sites such as Google Earth; Google Maps and Windows Live Local, maps and satellite images of regions are be3.coming more readily available.
1. Explore these applications and describe the features that are available.
2. Describe how these applications can be used by the public in their everyday lives.
3. Discuss the social and ethical issues raised by Google Earth. Support your arguments with references from current news articles.
4. Mapping technology is being used by drivers to help navigate themselves from A to B. Research at least 2 products that are available e.g. TomTom and describe the features that they offer.
2.2.2 Databases and spreadsheets
Social and ethical issues
Students must study and evaluate the social and ethical issues involved in the use of spreadsheets. These may include:
In order to study and evaluate the social and ethical issues involved in the use of
spreadsheets, the student must have an understanding of related technological concepts.
These may include the following.
Design and creation concepts
• Key terms—cell, cell format (number, text, value, function, calculation, date, currency), row, column, label, macro, replicate, template, worksheet, “what if” questions, range, absolute and relative reference
• Paper files versus electronic files
• Reliability and integrity of data
Storage and access concepts
• Data transfer between a database and a spreadsheet
Presentation concepts
• Select print and display area of a worksheet
• Use of the appropriate graph or chart for the meaningful representation of information
• Special-purpose spreadsheets, for example, inventory, budget
For more .......
2.2.5 Modelling and simulations
Social and ethical issues
Students must study and evaluate the social and ethical issues involved in the use of modelling and simulations. These may include:
• reliability of predictions based on computer models, for example, weather, global warming
• economic effects of the use of models to design and test new products
• security issues involved in military simulations
• social impact of reliance on simulations to examine issues of public policy
• responsibility of the designer for accuracy of assumptions underlying the model
• ethical considerations involved in deciding when to use models or simulations to ensure human safety.
Knowledge of technology
In order to study and evaluate the social and ethical issues involved in the use of modeling and simulations, the student must have an understanding of related technological concepts.
These may include:
• key terms—model, simulation, feedback loop
• faulty or hidden assumptions
• extent and effect of the simplification of reality
• extent to which the phenomenon being modelled is understood
• processing power needed to create complex models
• visualization of information
• correspondence of the model with reality.
For More....
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