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A Performance-Based Activity Incorporating Motion Detectors Interfaced With Personal Computers Connie Flowers Math/Science Specialist Templeton Elementary Prince Georges County Public Schools (301) 985-1880 cflowers@pgcps.org Can You Graph It? is a performance-based, instructional task. In this task, students will use a motion detector interfaced with a desktop or laptop computer. Students move in front of the motion detector, creating graphs on the monitor that accurately record their movement. Analysis of these graphs provides understanding of the relationship between numerical data and that which provides the data. This understanding is demonstrated by the ability to accurately describe movements needed to create a specific graph. It is further demonstrated by giving examples and explanations from the investigation in a writing activity at the end of the task. This task has been written to fit the 5E's lesson format. Evaluation in the form of a scoring tool has been included at the end of the task. The lesson was designed to take 4 - 5 fifty-minute class periods. The lesson requires a minimum of 1 - 2 computers, interface units, and software. The room should be arranged so students can clearly view the monitor. The motion detector requires a space measuring approximately 1m X 4M that is clear of obstructions. This space is needed so the students can move to create the graph. The task Can You Graph It? satisfies the following areas from the Project 2061 Benchmarks for Science Literacy produced by the American Association for the Advancement of Science: Habits of Mind Values and Attitudes · Keep records of their investigations and observations and not change the records later · Offer reasons for their findings and consider reasons suggested by others. Nature of Science Scientific Inquiry · Scientists' explanations about what happens in the world come partly from what they observe, partly from what they think. Sometimes scientists have different explanations for the same set of observations. That usually leads to their making more observations to resolve the differences. This task also satisfies the following from the National Science Education Standards, produced by the National Science Teachers Association: Science as inquiry, Grades 5-8 As a result of activities in grades 5 - 8, all students should develop · Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry Think critically and logically to make relationships between evidence and explanation · Understandings about scientific inquiry Technology used to gather data enhances accuracy and allows scientists to analyze and quantify results of investigations This lesson was developed as part of the Net Tech Project, University of Maryland, College Park. Can You Graph It?