Students access satellite images of their watershed from the earth orbiting environmental satellites.

• Students study their watershed using the same geographical information system and database as the New Jersey and New York Departments of Environmental Protection.
• Students measure and record water quality conditions in their watershed and share data on an interactive watershed map via the Internet.
• Students will share the results of their studies with scientists and the environmental community.

Technology

Internationally recognized Geographical Information Systems (GIS) software packages are used:

• ArcView (IBM and Macintosh)
• DIMPLE (Macintosh)

(RST)² students ...

• enhance and interpret satellite images of their watershed
• learn to manipulate Geographical Information Systems (GIS) that are used by scientists throughout the world to understand environmental data
• collect and analyze water quality data from streams in their watershed
• share information with others schools using the Internet
• hypothesize and make predictions for their school community
• use the technology and (RST)² approach in studying other aspects of environmental science as well as geography and social studies
• engage in problem solving curriculum projects

Teacher participants

Technology and content training is given for teachers during four weeks in the summer at Ramapo College of New Jersey, Middlesex County College, and Ulster County Community College.

For more information on the (RST)² Program, contact:

Angela Cristini
Ramapo College of New Jersey
505 Ramapo Valley Road
Mahwah, New Jersey 07430-1680
Phone: (201) 529-7724
E-Mail: acristin@ramapo.edu

Graduate credit for (RST)² participation is available through Ramapo College of New Jersey.