Core Concepts/Content

A goal of a good teacher is to be sure that students learn core concepts … those practical concepts that will be important in the lives of all students.   It is important for teachers planning lessons using technology not to forget that technology can be used to enhance content learning and make it more practical for everyday life.

Below is a list of basic objectives and content for this project:
By the end of this project, students should be able to do the following:

Content:

1. Run regression analyses on sample data to determine best fit lines and equations describing that data.
2. Describe general rules regarding the relationships between  a) frequency and pitch, and b) wavelength and period.
3. Discover and relate the general rule relating the energy a wave has to its wavelength.

Thinking/Problem Solving Skills:

1. Classify musical notes by frequency/pitch patterns, and make standards to compare with unknown data.
2. Analyze unknown data samples, looking for patterns.
3. Defend a position with self-collected data.

Technology Skills:

1. Use TI-83 or computer microphone to collect and analyze sound.
2. Make an electronic portfolio of images of the collected sounds to use as a standard of comparison.
3. Run a simulated radio telescope to examine natural sources of sound.
4. Use Microsoft NetMeeting to collaborate and present evidence in a symposium format to an expert audience