Untitled DocumentSPLASH: Student-centered Program for Learning about Semi-Arid Hydrology
Macro Theme Area:
Education [Project ID: E02]
PI:
Jim Washburne
CO-PI(s):
Gary Woodard, John Madden
Basin focus:
Regional SW
Specific area in
basin /
field sites:
N/A
Summary/Goals: SPLASH is a collaborative effort among high school science and social science teachers, scientists, and science educators to create and implement a regionally focused water curriculum available online via SAHRA's website.
The goal for 2006-2007 is to make SPLASH more usable for its audience, reach a wider audience, and experiment with new web-based technologies and distance learning workshops to make this happen.
Activities and outcomes during past year:
In 2004 10 teachers from around Arizona were trained to use SPLASH with their approximately 990 students. All teachers and the SPLASH trained teachers from previous received support via meetings held twice every semester. 2005 saw the project completed, copyright issues resolved and the new science standards incorporated. One current problem is that SPLASH is a large and cumbersome curriculum that is lightly used by its primary audience. Finally, in 2007, we started editing these modules and preparing to integrate them into a new education web site. Part of the delay was the departure of Wiley Cox and an intermittent work schedule by AJ Schneller (due to other commitments).
Plans for the upcoming year:
SPLASH has completed its primary task and is no longer supported by leveraged Eisenhower funds. 2005 work focused on promoting the curriculum, completing edits, and providing support for participating teachers via support meetings and access to CATTS fellows. In 2006 SPLASH will undergo a summative evaluation based on user feedback and a redesign to make it more usable for teachers, and to reach a wider, web-based audience, possibly including virtual schools and homeschools in AZ.
2007: SPLASH is being modularized and will be remormated in a new web interface during 2008.
