Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere (CASA)

Content Institute Produces "Weather RATS"

In July 2004, twenty-two teachers came to the University of Massachusetts-Amherst to learn about cutting-edge scientific and engineering research being done at the CASA Engineering Research Center. CASA, the NSF Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere, along with support from Raytheon, the Massachusetts Department of Education and Springfield Public Schools, hosted this first Content Institute for middle school teachers.

The Content Institute featured lectures by expert faculty, hands-on labs and activities, a field trip to a national radar facility, and development and review of classroom resources utilizing communications technologies. The 3-credit graduate-level Content Institute was designed to enable sixth- through ninth-grade teachers to deepen their knowledge of concepts and develop hands-on classroom activities with respect to the engineering/technology and earth and space science curriculum frameworks.

The work of the Content Institute did not end in July. A group of eight participants are continuing to work together on a project called "Weather RATS," which places wireless weather stations at their respective schools. Their proposal has been submitted to NSF for funding. According to the proposal, "The Weather RATS' primary objective is to use wireless weather stations and Internet data sharing capability, along with NOAA and National Weather Service data, to track, observe, and research weather systems across widely separated geographic areas, as well as to investigate the structure and behavior of micro-climates within Massachusetts. It also emphasizes sharing research results among diverse cultural groups, contributing to a shared understanding of how weather and technology affect daily life on our planet."

To learn more about this topic:
See the Center for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere web site at http://www.casa.umass.edu/educationandoutreach/k-12/kci.html

Return to the previous page.

2004 CASA Content Institute participants.

Learn More

Help with Searching

Contact the ERC Achievements Showcase Webmaster.

Last modified: May 16, 2006