Laptop for Astronomy Physics Chemistry and Earth Science
My students need a laptop for many uses; Physics, Chemistry-Graphing and Modeling, Astronomy-Scope control and planetarium, Earth Science-Topo maps, and all Sciences-probeware.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Hefner's classroom raised $519
This project is fully funded
My Students
My science classes are known to be very hands-on. This laptop can be used in all four subjects I teach this school year. For astronomy having a laptop for field use while observing can be very powerful. I have (mostly free) software to run on the laptop, the students are in need of hardware.
I will be teaching four science subjects this school year.
I will explain a little about each class.
AP Physics consists of mostly seniors with a few juniors each year. Between 50-75% of the students plan to attend 4-year university after high school. The students that do not attend university usually plan at least 2-year community college.
Chemistry students are sophomores through seniors. Much like Physics, most of these students plan for university after high school. Some plan to attend trade school of community college.
Earth Science is mostly a class of freshmen. I have found some diamonds in the rough. Through mentoring, some of these students have pushed themselves and taken harder classes later in high school. I attribute this to my willingness to nurture these students and I do make science as fun as I can with lots of labs and activities.
Astronomy is a new course for the school. Most of these students will be upperclassmen. Most have plans for post-secondary school
My Project
Each of my 4 subjects can make use of this laptop.
Physics does many labs that have students graph data and from the graphs fit lines and determine relationships between variables. This modeling approach is very research based and proven effective. The laptop can be used for probeware and I have small educational robots that can be programmed from the laptop for use in studies of motion.
Chemistry makes us of probes in some labs. Having students graph some of their labs and interpret those graphs can be done with the laptop. Also, probes we sometimes use in Chemistry need computer interfacing for most data collection.
Earth Science can make use of topographic mapping software. Vulcanism can be demonstrated with profile views using software I already have possession of.
Astronomy students can control telescopes. Planetarium software can be used in the field. Long term projects can be completed to track the moon and sun even on cloudy days by simulating the sky-day or night.
I have the activities and equipment to make my class hands-on.
Having access to this laptop can allow me to step-up even more in Astronomy. But, all four of my classes can make use of a laptop. Even one laptop can pay dividends in my classroom. Physics class makes graphs and uses probes. Earth Science can use mapping software. Chemistry uses probes and makes graphs. Astronomy can control telescopes and use planetarium software outside where a desktop is just not practical.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
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