BalloonSats and Attitude toward Science

Robotics and Attitude toward Science • Social implications of science • Normality of scientists • Attitude toward scientific inquiry • Adoption of scientific attitudes

BalloonSats

BalloonSat Literature • Mostly Descriptive • State Standards • Positive Student Response • Research with University Students

Taylor Study • Intrinsic Motivation • Application Knowledge • Cognitive Skills • Content Knowledge

Student Attitudes toward Science and TOSRA • The social implications of science • The normality of scientists • Attitude toward scientific inquiry • The adoption of scientific attitudes • The enjoyment of science lessons • Leisure interest in science • Career interest in science

TOSRA Reliability 0.66 – 0.93 (mean 0.82) 0.69 – 0.84 (retest) Validity 0.10 – 0.59 (mean 0.33)

History of the BalloonSat Study • BalloonSat Kit • Pre-Survey • Launches • Post-Survey

BalloonSat Kits

Student BalloonSats

Preparing for Launch

Lift Off

Recovery

Results • ANCOVA • Leisure Interest in Science • No Gender Effect

Significance F(1,135) = 3.91

p = 0.05

partial η2 = 0.03

Discussion • The Need for Multiple Treatments • Achievement and Attitude • Social and Non-social Factors • BalloonSats as a Leisure Activity

Recommendations • Yearly BalloonSat projects • More students • More time • More references • Teacher training • Local vs distant launches • Elements of a BalloonSat project • Long term effects • NGSS

Example Presentation from Tyee Middle School, Bellevue, Washington

GROUP FOUR

Tyee MS: Satellite Club By Jenny, Sally, Dennis, Tyler, Turner

Clouds and sky pictures >

PHOTOS

from the launches < on the way up

PHOTOS

(cont.) from the launches < almost up in space

PHOTOS

(cont.) from the launches < Near space pictures

PHOTOS

(cont.) from the launches ^ on the way back

Some Hardships

during the experiment • Picking the absolute design for the satellite • Soldering the wires to the microchips without burning anything • Programming was difficult • Tests: – Shake – Drop – Camera • Constructing interior • Getting to know to parts of the satellite

Data Tables

Data Tables cont.

Altitude NearSys 12F 90 000 80 000 70 000 60 000 50 000 40 000 30 000 20 000 10 000 0 0,0 10,0 20,0 30,0 40,0 50,0 60,0

MET (minutes)

70,0 80,0 90,0 100,0 110,0 120,0

Conclusion & Answers

higher temperature & lower humidity Answer: The highest temperature was 57.4 ̊ degrees which was when was the beginning of the launch (on Earth) and the lowest temperature was -41 ̊which was near space. The lowest humidity was -23.9% (Near space) and highest humidity was 86.1% (On Earth). There is a enormous difference of humidity and temperature of on Earth and near Space.

Insights on Experience

Sally; This new experience was a memorable afterschool activity. I met new friends and I got to enjoy science more. We were all proud when we finished the project. Jenny; It was not what I’ve expected. I was very frustrated when things went wrong but I’m proud of our work. Dennis; I believe satellite club was a great benefit in my life I learned more about programming and cooperating with others like usually I work singly. I was dazzaled how the adults knew what we should do easily when programming and it was just an amazing experience. Sometimes we had some hard times but then we would actually fix it later!