MAPPING THE ENVIRONMENT WITH SENSORY PERCEPTION: SENSING AND RECORDING ENVIRONMENTAL DATA (Invited Presentation)

Mapping the Environment with Sensory Perceptionis a two to three-week instructional module wherein students develop an understanding of the systemic effects pollutants have on the environment. Students evaluate how geoscientists and other concerned parties investigate these effects and then use the results to communicate and develop containment and remediation strategies. In the module, sensory data are collected by students and used to trace the movement of contaminants through an environmental system.

In Unit 2 of the module (Sensory Log & Holistic Reflection), students record a log of immediate, personal sensory experiences by pausing once each hour over a period of ten hours to record the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and tactile experiences they sense in that moment. In class, students use the logs to explore disparate ways of paying attention to and recording sensory experiences. This is a launching point for subsequent units wherein students plan how to and subsequently collect sensory data in the field; prepare and present field data collection and findings; and relate sensory experiences to the social, biological, and geophysical aspects of the environment.

In this demonstration, participants will collect sensory data and participate in a guided discussion of the results. The context of the discussion will include the relationship between qualitative and quantitative data, the inherent complexity of environmental data collection and characterization, the difficulty of communicating the results, and the relationship of the sensory data to the environment in which it was collected.

The on-line module, available at the InTeGrate website (http://serc.carleton.edu/integrate) includes a detailed description of the entire module including the context for use, step-by-step instructions, teaching materials and notes, discussion prompts, assessments, and additional references and resources.