Exercise 1: Analyzing Web Units

http://edweb.sdsu.edu/triton/sculpting/sculptexercise1.html

In this exercise, you'll look at two or more of the web sites listed below and analyze them in terms of their inputs, transformations and outputs. Use this matrix to tease out the various resources and skills involved in the unit.

A Matrix for Web-Unit Analysis
	Inputs	Transformations	Outputs
Actions & Resources (Tangible)	What people, documents, data, and other resources will the students have access to?	What actions will the student perform while working with the information?	What will the students produce?
Skills (Intangible)	What skills will the students need to make sense of or acquire the information?	What skills will the students need to transform the information?	What skills will the students need to communicate their work to others?

To begin the exercise, explore this site:

WhaleNet at Wheelock College WhaleNet is a unique interdisciplinary, hands-on, collaborative telecomputing project to foster excitement and learning about the natural world in schools across the nation and around the globe. As you explore this site, pay particular attention to the Satellite Tagging Observation links, as well as the A.S.K. a Scientist and WhaleNet Data links.

Here is how you might have completed the matrix for WhaleNet:

WhaleNet Example
	Inputs	Transformations	Outputs
Actions & Resources (Tangible)	Data on location of tagged whales Sea surface temperature maps Reports of whale sightings, illnesses and deaths	Cooperative group work Library research	Prediction of whale's path sent via e-mail
Skills (Intangible)	Read and interpret tables Find location using latitude & longitude Interpret false color maps Formulate questions for experts	Compare and contrast Hypothesis generation and testing	Explain and defend prediction Use e-mail

Now... Let's Look at Some Other Sites

Here are a few more sites for you to analyze. Print out a hard copy of this page and fill in the matrix for at least two of the sites. We'll then discuss your results and compare with what others have found.

Tracking Drifter Buoys. In this online activity, students learn how oceanographers measure ocean currents by tracking some drifter buoys over time. Includes a teacher guide, reference material, activity directions, and even downloadable spreadsheet files.

Matrix for Drifter Buoys
	Inputs	Transformations	Outputs
Actions & Resources (Tangible)
Skills (Intangible)

Non-Profit Prophets. This is a pilot test of a unit in which high school students are partnered with non-profit organizations for whom they create web pages to promote their cause.

A Matrix for Non-Profit Prophets
	Inputs	Transformations	Outputs
Actions & Resources (Tangible)
Skills (Intangible)

Kids as Global Scientists. This program includes several activities based on analysis of realtime satellite images. Topics include Clouds and Humidity; Precipitation; Wind; Hurricanes; Temperature and Pressure.

Matrix for Kids as Global Scientists
	Inputs	Transformations	Outputs
Actions & Resources (Tangible)
Skills (Intangible)

The California Web Project uses the resources of the Internet World Wide Web to unleash the creative efforts of California students as they create a home page containing their own original research and information.

Matrix for the California Web Project
	Inputs	Transformations	Outputs
Actions & Resources (Tangible)
Skills (Intangible)

Return to the Sculpting the Triton Curriculum page.

Last updated May 28, 1996 by Bernie Dodge.