From Theory to Practice; Leveraging Smartphone Capabilities for Field Trip Data Acquisition and Dissemination

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 22 (2017) pp 172-175

From Theory to Practice; Leveraging Smartphone Capabilities for Field Trip Data Acquisition and Dissemination

Jeffrey B. Kuhlmeier*, and Jeffrey Rosentreter

Department of Chemistry, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, kuhljeff@isu.edu
Received May 4, 2017. Accepted September 11, 2017.

Published: 18 October 2017

Abstract. Without question, educational field trips can facilitate student learning and also provide a high degree of student engagement. Field studies are especially well suited examining the chemical processes of the everyday world. Todays’ smartphones come packed with technological advancements, which can be employed to aid in the collection and distribution of information. Their capabilities are especially well suited for real world environmental sampling associated with classroom field trips. Using appropriate applications and, or web browsers, they also provide an apt means for sharing collected data in real time. This paper outlines the means of harnessing cellphone technology to augment field sampling for chemical laboratory class field trips. Our specific example is for the characterization of local on surface and ground water, yet it could easily be adapted for studies of a wide range environmental data collection.

Key Words: Computers in Chemistry; general chemistry

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: kuhljeff@isu.edu )

Article in PDF format (627 KB) HTML format

Supporting Materials:

An Excel template data collection form is supplied in the Supporting Material. Instructions for obtaining the applications and setting up the software are provided by the author. (474 KB)