"Must Haves" for Study Participation

This Professional Development Opportunity is a national study supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF). To ensure that every teacher’s experience is similar, the study has paired down the “must have” list to the following items below. Optional items are noted as such.

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I. Books:
The study only requires Units 1 and 2, but the professional development also includes Unit 3, for a complete year of environmental science. Depending on the reading, math, and science background of students, you may be able to complete either two or three units in a one-year course. Academically prepared upper-level students may be able to complete units 1 and 2 in a half-year course.

You will need:

• Unit 1 Teacher Edition
• Unit 1 Student Editions
• Unit 2 Teacher Edition
• Unit 2 Student Editions

Optional:

• Unit 3 Teacher Edition
• Unit 3 Student Editions

II. Ancillary Materials:

You will need:

• Black Line Masters and Overheads CD

The Black Line Masters and Overheads CD contains black line masters for student handouts and images to printed as transparencies for use on an overhead projector or to be projected directly from a computer during classroom activities.

III. Software:
Technology is an integral part of Investigations in Environmental Science and is required to participate in the professional development study.

Note: Student computers do not require a connection to the Internet.

You will need the following software and data CD's, which are available directly from It's About Time Publishers:

• Simulations and Multimedia CD

The Simulations and Multimedia CD includes simulations, web pages, and Microsoft excel spreadsheets that must be copied onto each student computer. All of the contents of the Simulations and Multimedia CD are compatible with both Windows and Mac OS.

• WorldWatcher 3.0 CD

The WorldWatcher CD contains the WorldWatcher data visualization environment and data. WorldWatcher is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS. The CD contains an installer, which installs both the software and data. WorldWatcher must be installed on each student computer.

• MyWorld GIS 4.0 for Investigations in Environmental Science CD

Investigations in Environmental Science is compatible with two GIS programs, My World GIS 4.0 and ArcView 3.3. In order to participate in the study, however, you must use My World GIS, which is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS. Participants in the study may not use the other option, ArcView.

The My World GIS for Investigations in Environmental Science CD includes: the My World GIS software, the My World GIS student activity guide (replacement pages for the student books that are customized to My World), and the data for those activities. My World is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS. The CD contains an installer for installing the My World software and data, which must be installed on each student computer.

Note: The My World GIS activity guide for students is provided in the form of a PDF file on the My World CD. It is not currently available from It's About Time in a printed form. It will be necessary for you to duplicate a classroom set of the activity guide.

Each student computer must also have the following, which are not available through It's About Time:

• A web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari) with a flash plug-in installed. (An Internet connection is not required for student computers.
• Microsoft Excel, or a spreadsheet application that is compatible with excel formulas.

IV. Materials and Supplies:
There are a handful of lessons that require a video or other specific materials. Most of the lessons can be done with materials purchased at the store or found in general science departments. Below is the list of specialized items.

Unit 1: Land Use

• Chapter 2 - Daphnia
• Chapter 3 - World Population Video from Population Connection
• Chapter 6 - Presentation Materials
• Full Unit 1 Materials List

Unit 2: Energy Generation

• Chapter 2 - Coal samples
• Chapter 3 - Indicator solution and pH paper
• Chapter 5 - A & E video "Earth in a Hot Seat"
• Chapter 5 - Heat Lamp
• Full Unit 2 Materials List

(Optional) Unit 3: Water Management

• Chapter 1 - Prepared Soil Samples (download instructions here)
• Chapter 1 - Soil Sieves
• Chapter 3 - Stream Table and lots of oil based clay
• Chapter 5 - Aquifer Model (we recommend this activity to be optional if you don't already have an aquifer model)
• Chapter 6 - Presentation Materials
• Full Unit 3 Materials List

If you are interested in applying for the study, but have concerns about obtaining any of the materials or software listed above, please contact us.

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