The Data Sensor Hub (DaSH): A Physical Computing System to Support Middle School Inquiry Science Instruction
This article describes a sensor-based physical computing system, called the <i>Data Sensor Hub</i> (<i>DaSH</i>), which enables students to process, analyze, and display data streams collected using a variety of sensors. The system is built around the portable and affordable...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/18/6243 |
| _version_ | 1797517221115723776 |
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| author | Alexandra Gendreau Chakarov Quentin Biddy Colin Hennessy Elliott Mimi Recker |
| author_facet | Alexandra Gendreau Chakarov Quentin Biddy Colin Hennessy Elliott Mimi Recker |
| author_sort | Alexandra Gendreau Chakarov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article describes a sensor-based physical computing system, called the <i>Data Sensor Hub</i> (<i>DaSH</i>), which enables students to process, analyze, and display data streams collected using a variety of sensors. The system is built around the portable and affordable BBC micro:bit microcontroller (expanded with the gator:bit), which students program using a visual, cloud-based programming environment intended for novices. Students connect a variety of sensors (measuring temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, sound, acceleration, magnetism, etc.) and write programs to analyze and visualize the collected sensor data streams. The article also describes two instructional units intended for middle grade science classes that use this sensor-based system. These inquiry-oriented units engage students in designing the system to collect data from the world around them to investigate scientific phenomena of interest. The units are designed to help students develop the ability to meaningfully integrate computing as they engage in place-based learning activities while using tools that more closely approximate the practices of contemporary scientists as well as other STEM workers. Finally, the article articulates how the DaSH and units have elicited different kinds of teacher practices using student drawn modeling activities, facilitating debugging practices, and developing place-based science practices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:13:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aeaa2cf862cd4f359bba12d16dda535a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:13:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-aeaa2cf862cd4f359bba12d16dda535a2023-11-22T15:13:53ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202021-09-012118624310.3390/s21186243The Data Sensor Hub (DaSH): A Physical Computing System to Support Middle School Inquiry Science InstructionAlexandra Gendreau Chakarov0Quentin Biddy1Colin Hennessy Elliott2Mimi Recker3Computer Science and Science Education, San José State University, San Jose, CA 95125, USAInstitute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USAInstructional Technology & Learning Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USAInstructional Technology & Learning Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USAThis article describes a sensor-based physical computing system, called the <i>Data Sensor Hub</i> (<i>DaSH</i>), which enables students to process, analyze, and display data streams collected using a variety of sensors. The system is built around the portable and affordable BBC micro:bit microcontroller (expanded with the gator:bit), which students program using a visual, cloud-based programming environment intended for novices. Students connect a variety of sensors (measuring temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, sound, acceleration, magnetism, etc.) and write programs to analyze and visualize the collected sensor data streams. The article also describes two instructional units intended for middle grade science classes that use this sensor-based system. These inquiry-oriented units engage students in designing the system to collect data from the world around them to investigate scientific phenomena of interest. The units are designed to help students develop the ability to meaningfully integrate computing as they engage in place-based learning activities while using tools that more closely approximate the practices of contemporary scientists as well as other STEM workers. Finally, the article articulates how the DaSH and units have elicited different kinds of teacher practices using student drawn modeling activities, facilitating debugging practices, and developing place-based science practices.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/18/6243sensor use in educationprogrammable sensors in educationinquiry science education |
| spellingShingle | Alexandra Gendreau Chakarov Quentin Biddy Colin Hennessy Elliott Mimi Recker The Data Sensor Hub (DaSH): A Physical Computing System to Support Middle School Inquiry Science Instruction Sensors sensor use in education programmable sensors in education inquiry science education |
| title | The Data Sensor Hub (DaSH): A Physical Computing System to Support Middle School Inquiry Science Instruction |
| title_full | The Data Sensor Hub (DaSH): A Physical Computing System to Support Middle School Inquiry Science Instruction |
| title_fullStr | The Data Sensor Hub (DaSH): A Physical Computing System to Support Middle School Inquiry Science Instruction |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Data Sensor Hub (DaSH): A Physical Computing System to Support Middle School Inquiry Science Instruction |
| title_short | The Data Sensor Hub (DaSH): A Physical Computing System to Support Middle School Inquiry Science Instruction |
| title_sort | data sensor hub dash a physical computing system to support middle school inquiry science instruction |
| topic | sensor use in education programmable sensors in education inquiry science education |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/18/6243 |
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