Weather Station Comes to Highland

We're Going GLOBAL!

Did you notice the white box on the post in the front of our school? That is our GLOBE instrument shelter and it is operational! AND if weather permits, we'll be collecting rain fall measurements tonight! This is very exciting because it really lets us push the boundaries of contextual learning. As a GLOBE school, we will be expected to record weather data daily and record it online at the globe.gov website. Our data will be used by scientists and students worldwide as researchers try to better understand the Earth as a system. Therefore, all protocols are set by GLOBE scientists to ensure both the quality of the measurements and the hands-on friendliness.

You might be asking: "Exactly what is GLOBE?"

GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) is a worldwide hands-on, primary and secondary school-based science and education program. GLOBE's vision promotes and supports students, teachers and scientists to collaborate on inquiry-based investigations of the environment and the Earth system working in close partnership with NASA and NSF Earth System Science Projects (ESSPs) in study and research about the dynamics of Earth's environment.

And you might be asking: "In addition to Highland Tech High, who else is involved in GLOBE?"

Announced in 1994, GLOBE began operations on Earth Day 1995. Today, the international GLOBE network has grown to include representatives from 110 participating countries and 139 U.S. Partners coordinating GLOBE activities that are integrated into their local and regional communities. Due to their efforts, there are more than 40000 GLOBE-trained teachers representing over 20000 schools around the world. GLOBE students have contributed more than 18 million measurements to the GLOBE database for use in their inquiry-based science projects.

If you have questions about GLOBE or what we are trying to accomplish, please contact me, Lori Gillam, or visit the GLOBE website. If you go to the teacher link you will find a long list of GLOBE protocols available; everything from brown-down to soil color to water quality and most things between. It is my hope to add new protocols to our reports as the year progresses. (I know GLOBE scientists are looking for snowfall data from schools in the northern latitudes!) Also, take a minute and read the FLEXE link. This sounds like an amazing opportunity for students during the January intensive!

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