Observing Beyond Our Senses: Inquiry Drives Technology

1. Observing Beyond Our Senses: Inquiry Drives Technology This presentation gives an overview for using the interdisciplinary science curriculum module for teaching how scientists develop, evaluate, and implement needed technology. Main question explored in this module: What do scientists do when they do not have the technology they need to answer questions?

2. Biology, Physics, Chemistry: interdisciplinary science

3. A consistent thematic narrative connects students to a real world problem...how do we accurately measure beyond what we can sense?

4. Students construct understanding by making and using their own scientific measuring instruments.

5. Students measure, graph and work with uncertainty.

6. During the final project, students use an instrument they’ve made and calibrated to • assess water quality • to share data with their peers • prepare a water management plan for a saline lake with uniqueextremophile microorganisms & a history of pollution.

7. Students build and calibrate a simpleelectro-opticalmeasuringdevice.PhotoresistorLED light sourceInsert test tube with microorganism sample here

8. Students use their electro-optical device to determine the extremophile population density in samples from the test case area.

9. Students collaborate to prepare a graphical display of their data.