Glenwood Middle School students get hands-on with science

February 21, 2016 at 12:06a.m.

Glenwood Middle School Students use new tools to perform experiments

BOARDMAN

Some new tools in Glenwood Middle School classrooms are helping students learn by experience.

With the help of grant funds and donations, the science department recently got new lab equipment, computer mice and a 3-D printer. Seventh-grade science teacher Eric Diefenderfer acquired $2,600 from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation for the lab equipment, and raised more than $1,000 on donorschoose.org for a 3-D printer and computer mice for the department’s Chromebooks.

The new lab equipment includes software, probes and sensors that allow students to conduct labs.

For example, “We’ll be doing labs to test the effects of acid rain. We’re going to use them to do motion when we design our roller coasters,” Diefenderfer said. “The most important function is, it collects data for the students and they use that data to graph and answer questions.”

The probes allow students to measure temperature, pH level, voltage, light, barometric pressure and motion. The graphing

software then lets them track those things over time.

As for the 3-D printer, students will use it later this year to participate in a national competition in which they must design the most efficient wind-turbine blade.

These kinds of tools benefit students, Diefenderfer said, because the technology “assimilates real-world labs and lab equipment that scientists use in the field.”

“Integrating technology is important because they’re going to be using skills in the classroom that they’ll be required to use in the real world,” he said.

It also helps students because it’s hands-on, he said. When they learn about photosynthesis, for example, they can measure carbon dioxide and oxygen.

“Instead of me just telling them that this is photosynthesis, they’ll be able to see what’s going on with oxygen and CO2 levels,” he said.

Seventh-grader Christian Scissum said the hands-on nature of the equipment helps him learn.

“It’s easier to use than notes,” he said.

Jad Abdo, another seventh-grade student, said Chromebooks in classrooms are especially helpful, and, “I really like the 3-D printer; it really helps us.”