RAPID: REMOTELY ACCESSIBLE PERSONAL INFORMATION DISPLAY - BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE FIELD AND THE LABORATORY TO SYNTHESIZE ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND FOSTER INTEGRATED AND COLLABORATIVE LEARNING

The IUPUI Center for Earth and Environmental Science has created an integrated network of environmental monitoring sites throughout Central Indiana that is based at a series of wetland, lake, and river research and restoration sites where faculty, staff, and students are studying water resources, water quality, environmental science, and ecosystem restoration. Long-term longitudinal data sets are being collected at several of the research sites and provide a rich array of historical information. We have deployed continuous recording water quality and weather sensors throughout the site network and, in many instances, retrieve high-frequency data remotely. These research sites, the historical data sets, and the environmental sensor network provide powerful opportunities for teaching and learning.

Ubiquitous computing and mobile technologies are now embedded in all facets of life and are increasingly utilized in both field and laboratory settings. However, field-based and laboratory learning are typically performed separately. For example, most students go on field trips and observe and collect data or conduct experiments. Later back in the classroom or lab, they input data into software programs, research historical information, and perform analyses. This separation of field and laboratory experiences can limit exploration and learning.

To close this gap and foster collaborative learning, we have created a hand-held field device for data entry that is capable of displaying real time environmental data from the environmental site network in conjunction with historical data from the site data archives. The PDAs are connected via a wireless network to allow data input and retrieval from the master databases and data sharing between students and faculty. Synthesis and visualization tools allow students in the field to evaluate information and modify experiments.

We will present results of field tests at the ARBOR riparian restoration site where we have been utilizing the wireless net, the real-time data being collected at the site and the database of five years of observational data to provide students with field-based tools to synthesize information and generate new learning experiences that are facilitated by the integration of field and laboratory experiences.