GETIT  Grades 6-12

Earthquakes... Volcanoes... Hurricanes... Plate Tectonics... are all subjects that deal with energy transfer at, or below, our Earth's surface. The new GETIT CD-ROM uses these catastrophic events to develop scientific inquiry and to teach the fundamentals of the Earth's dynamism.

Introducing GETIT (Geoscience Education Through Interactive Technology), the Geoscience CD-ROM that encourages students to dig deeper. GETIT's research activities are designed for students to utilize an inquiry-based approach to learning through investigations that closely simulate real-life research practices and use real-world data. This approach allows students to think like scientists — looking beneath the surface, learning from mistakes and discovering that science is a complex network of ideas and processes. GETIT's emphasis on 'depth of understanding' gives students an appreciation of the nature of geoscience.

What's In GETIT...

Navigating the corridors of the GETIT^TM museum, you will notice that every object is active and leads to referential information on one of 63 activities covering Seismology, Hurricanes, Plate Tectonics, Rock Melting, Volcanology, and Geology. Each of these interactive, inquiry-based activities closely simulates real-life research practices and incorporates simulations of advance research equipment. The activities integrate mathematics and literacy skills and are supported by physical science and nature of science concepts. The students formulate and test hypotheses, use the simulations to collect data, and compare their results to the results of scientists.

Administrative Tools Make GETIT a Luxury

Create or import student rosters, assign each student a working disc, and then monitor their progress. GETIT^TM includes an interactive notebook for students to record their ideas and discoveries, and to enter their answers to questions asked. Now you are equipped to oversee and record your students' progress and easily see where they need your assistance and guidance. A convenient printing control allows you (and only you) give students permission to print their research.

Why GETIT was developed...

GETIT was developed with National Science Foundation funding and the support of the Geological Society of America. Prior to the inception of the Geoscience Education Through Interactive Technology (GETIT) project, the three principles of Cambrian Systems had informally and independently reached the conclusion that students were acquiring a broad and sophisticated scientific vocabulary, but were frequently unable to describe the fundamentals of science from which this vocabulary grew. Although their collective experience is primarily as research scientists and college level teachers, they have been actively involved with middle school science teacher enhancement projects for several years. The high level of enthusiasm with which their efforts at teacher enhancement were greeted prompted them to expand their emphasis on education, which led to the development of GETIT.

Developed with funding from the National Science Foundation. Developed by Cambrian Systems.

The GETIT Museum Map.



The GETIT Administrative database.



Collecting data and plotting results from a rock-melting experiment.



A map showing plotted search results of volcanic and earthquake activity.