Powers of Inquiry: Using Image Analysis to Explore Environmental Health Science

描述(由申请者提供)：这一第二阶段小型企业创新研究(SBIR)申请的目标是为国家环境健康科学研究所(NIEHS)创建一系列教育材料，题为调查的力量：使用图像分析探索环境健康科学。该项目将出版的十课将使用四种先进的技术工具--NASA Image2000(NI2K)、ArcExplorer Java教育版(Ajee)、Images和Weblmage--引导初中生进行探究式探索，通常是与NIEHS的使命有关的案例研究。在《探究的力量》中，学生们将使用NI2K、Ajee、ImageJ和Weblmage来显示和增强由NIEHS支持的科学家和其他科学家进行的研究的数字图像。有了这些工具和调查材料力量提供的支持，学生们将加强他们的科学和技术技能，成为更好的科学数据消费者，并培养对NIEHS在保护国家健康方面所起作用的欣赏。“十次幂”的形式将组织“探究的力量”课程。该系列的每一课都将聚焦于环境健康问题，从地球层面开始，通过平流层、沿海地区、社区、社区、家园、人体器官、微生物和人类组织细胞的课程，得出关于分子尺寸纳米技术的好处和风险的课程。《探究的力量》教材的教育目标将是通过一种引人入胜的视觉媒介将环境健康科学介绍给初中生和高中生，让他们参与支持完成国家和国家标准的科学、数学、技术和阅读教育的研究性活动。这些材料将由Science Approach开发，这是一个由教育图像处理中心(CIPE)的工作人员创建的营利性组织。CIPE是一家备受尊敬的非营利性教师教学材料和专业发展服务提供商，在开发和商业化类似于《探究的力量》的教学材料方面有着成功的记录。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of this Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) application is to create a series of educational materials for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) entitled Powers of Inquiry: Using Image Analysis to Explore Environmental Health Science. The ten lessons to be published by the project will employ four advanced technology tools-NASA Image2000 (NI2K), ArcExplorer Java Edition for Education (AJEE), Imaged, and Weblmage-to lead middle and high school students through inquiry- based explorations often case studies related to the mission of NIEHS. In Powers of Inquiry, students will use NI2K, AJEE, ImageJ, and Weblmage to display and enhance digital images from research being conducted by NIEHS-supported and other scientists. With these tools and the support provided by the Powers of Inquiry materials, students will strengthen their science and technology skills, become better consumers of scientific data, and develop an appreciation for the role that NIEHS plays in protecting the health of the nation. A "powers of ten" format will organize the lessons in Powers of Inquiry. Each lesson in the series will zoom in on environmental health issues, starting at the planetary level and moving through lessons about the stratosphere, coastal regions, communities, neighborhoods, homes, human organs, microscopic organisms, and human tissue cells to arrive at a lesson on the benefits and risks of molecule- sized nanotechnologies. The educational goal of the Powers of Inquiry materials will be to introduce environmental health science to middle and high school students with an engaging visual medium that involves them in inquiry-based activities supporting accomplishment of state and national standards for science, mathematics, technology, and reading education. The materials will be developed by Science Approach, a for-profit organization founded by staff from the Center for Image Processing in Education (CIPE). CIPE, a well-respected nonprofit provider of instructional materials and professional development services to teachers, has a successful track record of developing and commercializing instructional materials similar to Powers of Inquiry.