Projects

The GK-12 ("Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education") Sensors! Program is a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded initiative between the University of Maine (UM) College of Engineering and a growing number of area middle and high schools. Between 2002 and 2006, GK-12 Sensors! fellows have worked with almost 6,000 students in 21 schools: Bangor High School, Brewer Middle School, Brewer High School, Bucksport Middle School, Bucksport High School, Caravel Middle School, Central Middle School (Corinth), Central High School (Corinth), Dexter Regional High School, Hampden Academy, Hermon Middle School, Hermon High School, James F. Doughty School (Bangor), John Bapst Memorial High School (Bangor), Jonesport-Beals High School, Lee Academy, Maine Central Institute (Pittsfield), Reeds Brook Middle School (Hampden), Sebasticook Valley Middle School (Newport), Sumner Memorial High School, and William S. Cohen School (Bangor). Currently, ten graduate fellows share their knowledge in engineering, science and social science with grades 6-12 students while teaming with teachers to bring sensor research into math, life science, earth science, environmental science, biology, chemistry, physics, electronics, computer science and robotics, civics, social science, geography and even health classrooms.

Portable Modules

Hands-on projects for middle- and high-school students include using sensors to determine water and air quality, test security in transportation, test food and plant safety, analyze biological and wildlife data, and monitor sound and light pollution. Teaching modules are also designed to create school-wide debates on public issues, such as sensor technology versus privacy. View Modules.

Collaborative Projects

May 2005 Bangor High School’s Mapping Historic Bangor Chosen as American Community Atlas Model for 2005

A multi-class Global Information System (GIS) project completed May 2005 by several GK-12 Sensors! Fellows working with students and faculty in the History Department at Bangor High School, Bangor, ME has been chosen as the K-12 national model for 2005. The project, sponsored by Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI), world leader in GIS software development, involved the creation of a digital community atlas of the historical geographies of Bangor. Known nationally as the Community Atlas Project, teachers and students were asked to define the nature of their community by creating maps, writing community descriptions, and compiling images to be combined in a visual presentation and posted on the Internet.

At the close of each school year ESRI invites students from American schools and clubs to submit their projects to the national Community Atlas Project. ESRI then identifies one model Community Atlas Project from all those submitted. This year students from Bangor High School’s History Department in World Geography, Civics and Senior Seminar classes earned the honor.

Curricular integrative support and technical advice was provided by NSF GK-12 Sensors! fellows Bradley Neuman, Eeva Hedefine and Danielle Donovan. The project required substantial community collaboration with the Bangor Historical Society, the City of Bangor (especially Police, Fire, and Airport), the Departments of Planning and Economic Development, and the Bangor Public Library. The teacher leaders were Jim Smith, Geoffrey Wingard and Margaret Chernosky.

The project can be viewed at http://www.esri.com/industries/k-12/atlas/model.html .

2004-2005 Bangor HS Introduction to Sensors Course

Bangor High School introduced a pilot course on sensor science and sensor technology into its 2004-2005 curriculum. Introduction to Sensors, a hands-on, inquiry-based science course, was offered to Honors students. Co-Principal Investigator and Head of Bangor High School Mathematics Department Stephen Godsoe along with third-year GK-12 Sensors! Fellow Lester French designed the course, and French coordinated and assisted in teaching.

2003-2004 Bangor, ME GIS Emergency Mapping Project

Working with GK-12 Sensors! fellows Eeva Hedefine and Brad Neumann, students in Bangor High School's Senior Seminar course entered a joint project with the Bangor Police and Fire departments to develop maps enhancing Bangor’s emergency response systems. (See "Students Create Hazards Map for City Officials" in the Summer 2004 issue of The Communique.) The project utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to produce emergency response maps for Public Safety and the community. (See "Bangor High Seniors Give City Satellite-Based Maps," page 4 of the May 14, 2004 edition of Bangor Daily News.) Community members, organizations, and services provided information about critical community services and facilities. Their cooperation enabled students to construct valuable maps that will be utilized by both Bangor Police and Fire Departments and community members in the event of an emergency. (View Emergency Response GIS Project sample pages.)