Jason and Millie at MSSD take a final temperature reading from their jar. Later they will compare their results in a videoconference with University High School and Indiana students. In Indiana, students carefully perform the same energy experiment. They read the water temperature before and after exposure to full sun. This Indiana students is calculating the area over the water jar directly lit by sunlight, a factor that is important to know when comparing between different geographical areas.
Students learn they have to be sure they are comparing similar quantities.
Scientists are using student data to investigate various global parameters. Students learning the importance of standardizing their measurement techniques. SOAR-High students are involved on a daily basis in the collection of environmental data. The hands on aspects makes more relevant the satellite images they also work with to answer questions about global environmental patterns. On the other side of the videoconference, University HS students join in the discussion.