Here is a photo taken during a lab we did using the water wave tanks. It is almost impossible to measure the wavlength using the old fashioned spinning strobe thingys. You can see in the photo the distance between the bright spots, that is the wavlength! I enhanced it by making it more blue! I let students use their cell phone cameras during this lab, they are more likely to have those than pencils, calculators, physics books etc. -wf
I love your use of cell phone cameras; I wonder if you had any backlash from administrators or parents.
ReplyDeleteI have had both. We do not have a computer in the classroom, let alone digital cameras but somehow I need to teach labs and use technology. I argue that the kids are much more attentive to the science when they use new and/or cool things to do the same work as pencil and paper. Being able to use their cell phones applies.
Can you elaborate on your approach and rationale?
I love your use of the cell phone camera for this activity. Sometimes we as teachers look at something and it is obvious to us what we are looking at, but many times the students do not see what we want them to see. I think this a a great example of use of technology, and I am definitely going to steal this idea from you.
ReplyDeleteAs for administration and parents, I live by the credo that it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission. Don't tie our hands with your silly "rules" that often prevent creative activities like this from happening.