STEM Digital, Day 5

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Leaf Leaching experiment, before purification

STEM Digital, Day 5, started out reviewing water quality and purification processes.  Earlier in the week, we had set up leaves for a leaf-leaching experiment.  We were now use this water to analyze the matter that had leached into the water.  We then tried different purification methods, and rated the efficacy of these methods of treating our water.

We then reviewed our earlier experiments, including the Diffusion Experiment and Crayfish Analysis of experiments we started earlier in the week, using the ADI software.

Finally, Mort Sternheim gave a presentation on different careers that could be considered that have to do with STEM and digital photo analysis.  We met with groups from our subject areas and talked about how our students would be able to use the skills we’re teaching them to find careers. 

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Our Crayfish, after 4 days in a light environment

Stem Digital, Day 4

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Arsenic Test Strips laid out with key

Day 4 of the STEM Digital class at UMass Amherst dealt with Dr. Julian Tyson’s work on Arsenic.  Arsenic is of major concern in both rice and drinking water supplies.  We talked at length about arsenic contamination in rice due to previous use of arsenic in fertilizers and pesticides.  This leads to a lot of arsenic being absorbed in rice now used in these fields.  Rice is efficient at taking arsenic from the soil.

There are many places where drinking water is contaminated.  Arsenic in the United States is limited to a part of 10 ppb, set by the U.S. EPA’s standards on drinking water.  We talked about the importance of checking Arsenic levels in private wells.  There are many places, one of which is Bangladesh, where arsenic is killing a lot of people.

We were also able to tour Dr. Julian Tyson’s lab in Goessmann Laboratory, and see how he conducts analytical chemistry, which was very impressive.  I wish I had taken pictures of all of the machines!

STEM Digital, Day 3

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Infrared image outside the Integrated Sciences Building at UMass Amherst

We started out the day by learning how to use Movie Tracker.  Movie Tracker is much like the ADI software.  Movie Tracker was really interesting to use, and would be particularly interesting for a physics classroom.  We analyzed different items, including calculating acceleration due to gravity..

After learning movie tracker, we started a series of ozone experiments.  We used homemade (called Shoeinbein Strips) and store bought ozone strips to test the amount of ozone found around locations of our choosing on campus.  My group decided to test ozone around refrigeration and air conditioning units found near Worcester Dining Common on the UMass Amherst campus, varying time as well (1 hour versus 2 hours).

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One of our test sites

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Our test strips set up at UMass Amherst

Our results for the ozone experiments supported a claim that there would be no difference between ozone absorbed by shrubs and ozone absorbed by larger trees.IMG_0191

Results of our Ozone test

We spent the rest of the day playing in the infrared– using cheap webcams and home-made infrared googles..  Note- do not look at the sun or you will go blind.

STEM Digital, Day 2

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Our Bromo-thymol blue setup, graded by amount of Carbon Dioxide.

Today is the second day of this week long course, and again it started with a variety of breakfast items.  We started right at 9 am, analyzing color, which was a great review of the biology of the eye and how it relates to digital cameras.

Jennifer Wellborn presented her Skin Color lab, a unit that she collaborated with her grade level team to teach the kids some of the social constructs, which I thought was impressive.  The students would use the ADI software to analyze their skin color, and come to the realization that no two people are the same.

Debbie Carlisle and Steve Schneider then presented about air quality, specifically in regards to Carbon Dioxide.  We went to the lab and use Bromo-thymol blue (which I’ve used in class) as an indicator, and made a series of tests to create partial color changes.  Bromo-thymol blue turns to a yellow color when exposed to an acidic environment.  Aqueous Bromo-thymol Blue will bind with Carbon Dioxide to create carbonic acid.  The lab was a really interesting spin on activities that I already do in my classroom, and could link with the Carbon Cycle.  We were easily able to analyze the color intensity of the solutions that we created.

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Our lab space for the Carbon Dioxide experiments.

Finally, Steve Schneider talked at length about Digital Camera Basics, explaining how different aspects of how digital cameras work, from sensors (CCD vs CMOS), Focal Length, ISO settings, and White balance, amongst other digital camera uses.

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Preparing the Bromo-thymol blue solution

STEM Digital Day 1

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The first day of STEM Digital was a great experience.  Mort Sternheim greeted us, and there was a lovely breakfast provided for us during registration.

We started the day with John Pickle explaining how to use the ADI software to analyze a leaf, using basic measurement and area techniques.  I became excited, because I believe this software will be very useful in measuring the pH in a few laboratories that I run.

Jennifer Wellborn, of Amherst Middle School, explained how she uses the software in her classroom with a few assignments, including with diffusion and crayfish.  We set up these experiments in the lab, to let them run the course of the week.  I am interested to see whether the crayfish turns color based on its environment.

We went on to talk about albedo and climate change.  Our assignment was to take a picture of white printer paper and measure the reflected light, comparing it with a darker medium (grass).

Steve Schneider presented how to measure angles with the ADI software, guiding us through Earth and Space Science.  We tried to measure angles of people’s faces, and see the basis of facial recognition software.

Finally, Dave Reckhow talked about water quality and water treatment, focusing on natural organic matter in water.  We set up leaf leaching experiments, to focus on analysis later in the week.

Looking forward to Day 2 tomorrow!