Acoustic distance measurement applications

[Edward Cherlin]

Thanks. I have put your story in a Wiki page called Data Acquisition
and Analysis for Children, where I am collecting material for a
proposed book.

On Nov 21, 2007 9:00 AM, Yoshiki Ohshima <yoshiki at vpri.org> wrote:
>   Ben and everybody,
>
>   The multiple-click problem prevented me from trying the acoustic
> distance measurement activity for a while, but finally I could do it
> last night on 637.  Thi is pretty cool!
>
>   This reminds me of a story I heard from my boss and I thought you
> would be interested in it, too:
>
> ---------------------------
> The graph activity was by some Physics professors at Tufts University,
> including Ron Thornton (who has been a major figure in physics
> education via computers since the Apple II). He has lots of stuff
> online (but I couldn't find the specific reference for this work
> (ca. 1990).
>
> Basically, they found that a pre-test that would accurately predict
> the final grade was apptitude at reading graphs.  Then they decided to
> try teaching some of their students how to read graphs -- and one of
> the main ways was to use a Polaroid camera range finder on the screen
> of the computer and the student using whole body movement back and
> forth to try to match different graphs on the screen: distance,
> velocity, acceleration, etc. They reported that this worked very
> well. We made a Hypercard version of this and tried it on children and
> teachers and found it worked very well.
> ---------------------------
>
>   Basically, looking at a graph and acting as a component or
> derivative of the graph is a great way to improve physics "sense" and
> it results in a better grade.  He thinks that using the "whole body"
> instead of just finger tips is a key.  This would be a great match
> with Acoustic Measure.
>
>   For this purpose, perhaps the interval of noise should be
> configurable and can be made shorter, and the read-out values should
> be able to be used by other things like a graph drawing/showing
> program.
>
>   Also, have you thought about making an explanation for kids, perhaps
> in the form of an "active essay"?  The current implementation is a bit
> like a magic, and I bet many kids who try it would say: "it can
> measure the distance because they are 'talking' to each other" or
> something like that based on the "story mode" of thinking when asked
> how it works.  A kid-accessible scientific explanation would be very
> nice.  Since the essence of the measurement should be very, very small
> (perhaps just one or lines, leaving all the details of binary sequence
> and speed of sound variation), that would be a quite fun reading for
> kids.
>
>   Just my 2 yen.
>
> -- Yoshiki
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-- 
Edward Cherlin
Earth Treasury: End Poverty at a Profit
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Earth_Treasury
Sustainable MBA student
Presidio School of Management