Heat Viz: An interactive digital platform for heat island investigations for K-12 STEM students

项目摘要/摘要 极端高温是美国与天气有关的死亡的主要原因(超过飓风和 龙卷风)，而热岛效应加剧了这些健康风险，通常在资源匮乏的城市 区域。我们的研究团队此前曾试行过热岛测量项目，用于公民科学研究 让大学生参与，并作为STEM在高中阶段的学习经验。通过试点 项目，我们的团队已经确定了限制广泛可伸缩性和适用性的关键可用性障碍 这些活动。此SBIR快速通道第一阶段/第二阶段计划(称为热Viz)旨在构建和测试交互式 数字媒体平台，使热岛项目能够在全国各地的高中实施。 该项目的目标是改善四个学生的成绩 1.天气、气候、生物地质学、人类等相关学科核心理念的内容知识 对地球的影响 2.提高对科学和工程实践的熟练程度：规划和实施 调查、分析和解释数据，并根据证据进行辩论 3.更好地了解热岛的健康风险，以及这些风险如何在 不同的群体，以及可以采取什么措施来应对这些风险 4.提高了学生对STEM的兴趣和对STEM如何改善自己生活的有效性 和他们的社区 热视项目的商业成果将是创建一个集成传感器的计划， 软件、课程材料和专业发展成为一个模块化的教学单元，教育工作者可以 在他们的生物学或地球科学课程中实施。PocketLab将营销和销售热Viz计划 通过我们的在线商店和我们在美国和国际上拥有30多家经销商的网络。口袋实验室将 通过我们的Science is Cool Learning传播研究成果并推广热Viz计划 与100K+科学教育工作者有接触的社区。

Project Summary/Abstract Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States (more than hurricanes and tornadoes combined), and the heat island effect intensifies these health risks, often in low-resource urban areas. Our research team has previously piloted heat island measurement projects for citizen science research involving college students and as STEM learning experiences at the high school level. Through the pilot projects, our team has identified key usability hurdles that limit the wide-spread scalability and applicability of these activities. This SBIR Fast-Track Phase I/II proposal (called Heat Viz) aims to build and test an interactive digital media platform to enable heat island projects to be implementable by high schools across the country. The goal of the project is focused on improvements of four student outcomes 1. Content knowledge of relevant disciplinary core ideas around weather, climate, biogeology, and human impacts on the Earth 2. Increased proficiency with the scientific and engineering practices: planning and carrying out investigations, analyzing and interpreting data, and arguing from evidence 3. Improved understanding of the health-risks of heat islands, how these are inequitably distributed among different groups, and what might be done to address these risks 4. Increased student interest in STEM and efficacy about how STEM can improve the lives of themselves and their communities The commercial outcome of the Heat Viz project would be to create a program that integrates sensors, software, lesson materials, and professional development into a modular instructional unit that educators can implement into their biology or Earth science curriculum. PocketLab will market and sell the Heat Viz program through our online store and through our network of 30+ resellers in the US and internationally. PocketLab will disseminate the research findings and market the Heat Viz program through our Science is Cool learning community which has engagements with 100K+ science educators.