The best thing about this project: Those classrooms that are lucky enough get actual "live" interaction with researchers in Antarctica. In conjunction with the mystique and lore of Antarctica, this serves as a strong motivation for those students. The resources and classroom activities compiled for the LFA2 project are more numerous and engaging than the previous LFA project.
The worst thing about this project: Because of logistics, it is impossible for all classrooms to get the same level of live interaction. Most students are relegated to watching the interaction via PBS and accessing related material on the WWW. Also, while the quality and volume of the learning activities has improved from the previous project, it still falls below the level I'd expect out of a project as unique and as well sponsored as this one. (The project is sponsored by NASA, NSF, and PBS.)
What I would change to improve this project (and why): Project members readily acknowledge that the interface of their activities needs improving. If things go as hoped, my work with Passport To Knowledge will continue to their other projects. Suggestions I would make would include added use of image maps, user-controlled animation (shockwave), more elaborate graphic images. While I'm not a big supported of Edutainment, I do recognize that a project's image and presentation methods are a critical part of enticing students into participation and learning.
Identified by: Steve Downey
Date: January 1997