Lesson Title: Seti Alien Search
Grade level: high school

Objectives:

1. The principle task of the students is to analyze radio signals for evidence of Extra Terrestrial messages and use self-developed standards to support or refute that possibility.
2. Understand the basic relationships between frequency, wavelengths, and the energy of waves in the electromagnetic spectrum.
3. Determine parameters around which Extra Terrestrials might attempt to communicate with our civilization.
4. Analyze sample data and compare with self-developed standard data including natural sources and possible signal sources.
5. Judge instructor-supplied sample data for possible "authenticity" of signals and then defend those decisions in front of an expert audience.

Ohio HSGQE competencies:

Physical Science Benchmark - Grades 9-10

1. Demonstrate that waves (e.g., sound, seismic, water, light) have energy and waves can transfer energy when they interact with matter.Scientific ways of Knowing Benchmark - Grades 9-10
2. Explain that scientific knowledge must be based on evidence, be predictive, logical, subject to modification and limited to the natural world.Scientific Inquiry - Grades 9-10
3. Participate in and apply the processes of scientific investigation to create models and to design, conduct, evaluate and communicate the results of these investigations.

Pre-Requisite Skills:

TI-83 Graphing Calculator and CBL Laboratory Interface:

• Students should have some limited experience in running a simple regression analysis of linear or power-based data and determine best fit equations for that data.
• Students should already have experience in hooking up data probes to the CBL (light, temperature, etc.) and collecting data in real time.

Astronomy

• Students should have a basic understanding of the overall structure of the universe.  This includes understanding how stars are grouped (singles, binary/trinary, clusters (open and globular), and galaxies.
• Students should have a working understanding of a light year and what that means in terms of time needed to travel to different parts of our universe.
• Students should have a general understanding of H-R
• Diagrams and the proposed life cycle of stars.

Computers

• Students should be comfortable in an icon-based environment and be able to locate and open files. 
• Students should be comfortable using a browser and search engine to locate info on the Internet.

Concepts:

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

Tasks:

• Make comparison standards for musical notes and some natural radio sources using the TI-83 and CBL.  This will be done in a collaborative format so that groups make some of the standards and then share with other groups.  Screens of the various sources will be saved as an "electronic" standards key. Will use CLEA's Radio Astronomy Lab to collect natural sources of radio signals which will also be saved as electronic standards.
• Analyze teacher-prepared "signals" for possible communication or beacon type characteristics.
• Present findings to the rest of the class and a panel of "experts" during an on-line "symposium", using NetMeeting, CuSeeme or other type of videoconferencing software.  Students will use evidence collected to support or refute the possibility of data being a possible SETI message.
• The principle task of the students is to analyze radio signals for evidence of Extra Terrestrial messages and use self-developed standards to support or refute that possibility.

Learning Strategies

• Discovery - Students will use the TI-83 and the CBL with a microphone to record sounds, varying both the pitch and the loudness of the sound.  Then they will synthesize a general rule that relates frequency to pitch and amplitude to loudness.
• Research - Students will use videos, books, and the Net to discover basic SETI principles of communications.
• Standards Development - Students will collect sound and record their images to use as a known standard against which they can compare samples.
• Data Analysis - Students will analyze samples of instructor prepared unknowns and use patterns to compare and classify data.
• Position Defense - Students will present data via net video-conferencing to an authentic audience, defending their position on potential ET communications

Evaluation/Assessment

Have your students presented you with enough information and artifacts that they have proven they are guilty of understanding?

Formative (non-graded) Assessments:

Systhesis of General Principles

After discovery phase of CBL work, students will be asked to generate a rule relating the energy of a wave to its frequency, the pitch of a sound to its frequency and the loudness of a sound to its amplitude.

Correct Use of Technology

When students are making standards of musical sounds, a quick check of each student group will be done to see if they are measuring two or three notes and equations accurately.

Correct Use of Simulation from the Net

When students use CLEA lab, run a check on one or two natural pulsars that students have recorded.

Summmative Evaluation:

Standards Portfolio

Groups will turn in an electronic portfolio of wave patterns and sinusoidal equations of musical notes from f4 to c6 as well as several natural sources of radio waves from pulsars, spacecraft, etc. This portfolio will be used as supporting or refuting evidence in deciding if their sample sounds were ET messages or not.

NetMeeting Whiteboard Presentations

Each student will turn in a self prepared whiteboard presentation which was used in the NetMeeting Symposium to defend decisions about ET messages.

NetMeeting Symposium

A group grade will be given for overall Symposium presentation. Grades will be based on evidence-based defense of position, as well as correct interpretation of evidence.