Use of Vernier's Labquest at geography fieldwork

Tatjana Kikec
[email protected]

Povzetek

V prispevku je predstavljen primer uporabe LabQuesta s pripadajočimi senzorji pri terenskem delu v okviru pouka geografije. Na terenu je bila prehojena pot z določeno višinsko razliko, točen potek poti je bil zabeležen s pomočjo GPS senzorja, hkrati pa so bili v časovnem intervalu ene minute zajeti podatki o temperaturi in zračnem tlaku. Zajeti podatki so s pomočjo programa Logger Pro preneseni na računalnik, grafično prikazani in tako potrjene nekatere osnovne geografske zakonitosti, kot so spreminjanje temperature in zračnega tlaka z nadmorsko višino. Prav tako so s pomočjo programa opravljeni izbrani statistični izračuni. Prehojena pot je kartografsko prikazana v programu Google Maps.
Uporaba LabQuesta ni zahtevna in se je z malo dobre volje hitro naučimo. Bo pa njegova uporaba pomembno obogatila terenski in laboratorijski del pouka geografije ter ostalih naravoslovnih predmetov, saj bodo z njegovo uporabo lažje doseženi nekateri učni cilji, povečala se bo kvaliteta pouka, le-ta pa bo dodatno popestren. Učenci in dijaki bodo ob tem razvijali pomembne kompetence uporabe sodobne tehnologije, zbiranja, analize ter interpretacije podatkov, orientiranja v prostoru z GPS-om in drugo. Gimnazije so napravo prejele ob koncu preteklega šolskega leta, bi pa veljalo razmisliti, ali ne bi bilo priporočljivo s tovrstno opremo opremiti tudi srednje poklicne in osnovne šole.

Ključne besede: geografija, pouk geografije, terensko delo, LabQuest, GPS.

Abstract

The article introduces an example of using LabQuest with compatible sensors at the geography fieldwork. The course of a path with a certain height above sea level walked through was scanned by the GPS sensor, and differences in temperature and air pressure were measured. The obtained results were uploaded on the PC by Logger Pro and shown graphically. In this way, some geographical statements, such as changes in temperature and air pressure according to the height above sea level have been proved. The PC programme helped us make statistical calculations. The path was shown cartographically by the use of Google maps.    
The use of LabQuest is not difficult and can be learned easily. By realizing certain curricular goals, increasing the quality of school lessons and variegating them, its use will doubtlessly enrich geography lessons at fieldwork and in laboratories as well as within other naturalistic school subjects. Pupils and students will develop important competences in using modern technology, as there are collecting, analysing and interpreting data, GPS orientation and others. Gymnasiums received the device by the end of the last school year. It would be more than recommendable to rethink the involvement of such equipment in elementary and vocational schools.     

Key words: geography, geography lessons, fieldwork, LabQuest, GPS.