I haven't totally finished this investigation, since I want to take pictures every month for the entire school year. I feel there is enough data now to report results though. I have attached the Investigation Implementation Doc. and if you're interested in learning more ... here is the link to my blog (or you can email me & I'll send more info).

I checked the link (that I forgot to include - it's not working anyway - so I've attached the file here!)

Celeste-- I found the same problems to be true. Not enough time and challenging for some to use both Excel and ImageJ at the same time. The one thing I have my students do so they cannot move ahead is place their hands on their heads. It sounds dumb but kids learn quickly why and what I expect of them. If hands are on heads they can ONLY be looking at the projection. (The SS teacher has the kids sit on their hands!)
I can never have enough time in the computer lab but we make due.

Love the use of the students are a element of ther experiment.....I am surprised that the students were lacking motivation, as this seems to be a really interesting ipremise fir an investigation....keep in mind the time of year, mid-year to third quarter they do hit the "slump"...

Celeste, I'm a Technology Teacher and at times kids do lack motivation even in a computer lab! A couple of hints when teaching in a lab environment-to get students to listen to instructions is to have them turn off monitors only and physically turn around to look at you. I will wait and say "I still don't have everyone looking at me" and then slowly students will be searching for the student who is not paying attention. When there are lots of instructions and steps some students eyes will literally "glaze" over. You may want to also include at the beginning a global view of what they will be doing and then again step by step process. Lastly, when there are two programs that are new to students, I do not tackle them in one day. It does make the lesson and unit longer but I find that when they learn each one separately on diffent days and then they need to go between two new programs that will be on a third day. I know it can be a real problem for teachers using a school lab vs. someone already having a computer lab and on a tight schedule. I really thought your lesson was very interesting.

Celeste,
This is a very interesting investigation. It fits in with the tecnology MCAS test quesations.
Rich Briody

Celeste,
This is a very interesting investigation. It fits in with the tecnology MCAS test quesations.
Rich Briody

Celeste,
This is a very interesting investigation. It fits in with the tecnology MCAS test quesations.
Rich Briody

Celeste,
This is a very interesting investigation. It fits in with the tecnology MCAS test quesations.
Rich Briody

Celeste,
This is a very interesting investigation. It fits in with the tecnology MCAS test quesations.
Rich Briody

Celeste, Great investigation! I do something similar with height and shoe size, but not anywhere as detailed. I just use ti so shoe graph making. You could break it down by sexes too. Maybe there is a difference between boys and girls?

Hi Celeste,

I would think the 7th grade classes would be interested in how they measured up to one another and chart their progress over time compared to others. It is unfortunate the students could not handle the exercise to the fullest learning extent available to them considering how normally their time is very limited to use the computers. Perhaps another year, better classes you would see better results.

Anne Marie