Hosted by OSOS , contributed by Peterulfjohanh… on 9 April 2018
Even if almost all of Italy is in a seismic area with risk of an earthquake with a large magnitude and earthquakes are frequently addressed in the mass media, the scientific knowledge of the mechanisms of an earthquake is not very well known and the awareness of preventative measures is low. In particular, our school is in an area classified in the second highest level for dangerous seismic activity, however, since large earthquakes in the area happen very seldom (several hundreds of years in between), the preventative measures are often not given sufficient attention.
The aim of this project is to increase the local awareness of earthquakes, both from increasing the scientific understanding of earthquakes as well as increasing the awareness of how to prepare and protect the society from possible earthquakes. Rather than addressing the topic generally, the project takes its starting point from the local situation.
The topic is very real to the pupils. In 2012 there was a rather large earthquake with epicenter just about 70 km from our town (the Emilia 2012 earthquake). The quake caused rather large material damage and several persons were injured (about 27 deaths). The landscape and the terrain where the Emilia earthquake happened are very similar to our town and since all of the pupils felt the earthquake 2012, they are all very aware of the fact that a similar quake could happen very near to our town at any instant. This makes the project very current and important for the pupils.
The class is divided into groups of 4 pupils and each group has to work on a different task related to earth quakes, seismology and the preventative measures by our town and school. The groups have to search the needed information outside the classroom and in particular each group has to contact one institution or partner outside the school:
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University of Bologna (theme: the present situation in the research on seismology);
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Municipality of Lugo (theme: the preventative measures in our town);
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Municipality of Lugo and the school leaders (theme: preventative measures of the school);
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The families (theme: the preventative measures at home);
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Laboratories of physics and Science in collaboration with the Golinelli foundation (theme: simulating and measuring an earthquake);
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Museum of Bendandi, Faenza (theme: predictions of earthquakes).
The work should end in a written report from each group which also should be presented to the entire class orally. Furthermore each group has to make a dissemination plan of how to make their findings available to other students at the school and to the local society.
Feel
Description and guidelines:
The project is initiated by a couple of lessons on seismic activity and earthquakes. The project is introduced together with the topics for the group activities. As a student you are asked to reflect upon the following issues:
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What was your knowledge about earthquakes before the introductory lessons and how was this knowledge changed after the lessons.
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What was the first impression of the topics for the group activities? Did you find the topics stimulating?
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How were the groups formed? Which criteria did you use?
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How did the group do to select the preferred topic? What was the decision based upon?
GROUP 1 - SCIENTIFIC DEEPENING -
Minguzzi Lorenzo, Minguzzi Teresa, Ragazzini Giorgia, Tazzari Benedetta
Before starting the project we knew just a few things about earthquakes; after the introducing lessons and a meeting with experts from the university of Bologna, we could develop the topic more in detail. The theme we were assigned seemed stimulating because it gave us the opportunity to deepen the parts we found more interesting. The formation of the groups was decided together with the other students according to comfort criteria, while the teacher gave us specific topics based on our preferences. We chose to deepen it scientifically, because it was the most general approach of all and we could treat many different aspects of earthquakes.
GROUP 2 - MUNICIPALITY OF LOGO -
Giganti Francesco, Ricci Frabattista Edoardo, Ruani Francesco, Smecca Simone
1) Before the beginning of the project we had general and not specific knowledge about earthquakes. Then we have increased our knowledge after we have started our work studying the phenomenon directly and talking with experts and the municipal engineer Fabio Minghini. Before the project, we had only some general information and we knew some basic methods of home prevention, so this project has been useful to know the causes of these shocks in scientific terms and to better understand the parameters that must the houses must respect to be built. 2) Our topic was stimulating because we had contacts with the municipal engineer Minghini and we have discovered how safe the houses we live in are. 3) Our group was formed mostly because of ties of friendship but also because we knew we could work well together. 4) We chose to take care of the municipality because we were interested in learning more about the territory from which we come and where we live.
GROUP 3 - SEISMIC SAFETY AT SCHOOL -
Faccani Emanuele, Martelli Francesco, Randi Serena, Tellarini Federico
Before this experience we knew that an earthquake is an underground quake caused by the movements of the faults. Thanks to our science lessons, we could extend our knowledge in the theoretical part in depth. In general all the points seemed to be interesting and exciting for the great quantity of options. The groups have been created by the students but themes have been chosen by the teacher, knowing all our preferences. We chose the School theme because we thought that It would be useful and important to know the stability of the building where we spend most of our mornings.
GROUP 4 - RAISING AWARNESS -
Baldini Karin, Boscarino Nicole, Gaddoni Maria Fernanda, Shahbaz
At the beginning we were mainly aware of the basic notions concerning earthquakes, for example the effects they cause on the ground and on buildings. Thanks to the lectures and the project we have deepened our knowledge on this subject. When the project was presented to us, we were intrigued by the topic, which is a current one, yet so many people are poorly informed about it. All the aspects presented to us were stimulating. The groups were formed spontaneously and in particular according to the links already formed within the class. The topic was chosen by the physics professor, taking into account the preferences expressed by the groups. Our first choice, the one that was assigned to us, has intrigued us from the beginning for the importance of making families aware.
GROUP 5 - EARTHQUAKE SIMULATION -
Ballardini Daria, Cocchi Matilde, Dalpane Maria Giovanna, Gatti Eleonora
Before the introductive lessons we had a basic knowledge about earthquakes: we knew what they were and what damages that they could cause to buildings. Nevertheless we knew nothing about how they are originated. Thanks to these lessons now we know how we can defend ourselves if there is an emergency. From the beginning, we have always been interested in this project, as it has allowed us to talk to a lot of experts and to make many experiments, so that we have developed our knowledge. The topics were very interesting because they permitted us to examine themes that otherwise we would not develop at school. Groups were chosen by students according to their preferences: they selected the mates that lived next to them; however we think they were balanced. To choose the topics we were free and we told our preference to the teacher, who finally decided for us.
GROUP 6 - EARTHQUAKE PREVISION -
Dalpozzo Simone, Fabbri Letizia, Gualandi Alaessia, Lanconelli Marco
Before the lessons about earthquakes, our knowledge about this topic wasn’t so specific, being based only upon our experiences such as the earthquake in Emilia in 2012, but then, they have become deepener. At the beginning the topics seemed to be interesting, moreover prevision is an important theme that involves us as it can save many human lives. Talking about the composition of the groups, our teacher let us free to create them; in that way we were able to stay with our friends and to balance them according to our marks. Finally, we could consider the vicinity between us, opting for the nearest ones. Our topics are the prevision of earthquakes and the figure of Raffaele Bendandi, an Italian scientist who tried to find a correct method to predict earthquakes.
Imagine
Description and guidelines:
In the “Imagine”-phase of the project a topic for the group activities is assigned to each group. As a student you are asked to reflect upon the following issues:
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How was your first reaction to the assigned topic. Were you pleased or not? Explain why.
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What was your first step to familiarize with the topic?
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Did you make a plan for the work? If yes, present the plan and explain how the group made the plan.
GROUP 1 - SCENTIFIC DEEPENING -
Minguzzi Lorenzo, Minguzzi Teresa, Ragazzini Giorgia, Tazzari Benedetta
We were pleased with the fact that our teacher respected our request, because the theme we chose was the most interesting one for us. Firstly we talked about how to develop the project; then we asked another student from our school who had already done a similar work last year. At the end we wrote down a list of the different aspects that we were going to treat and we began to develop a report.
GROUP 2 - MUNICIPALITY OF LUGO -
Giganti Francesco, Ricci Frabattista Edoardo, Ruani Francesco, Smecca Simone
1) We are satisfied worth the theme assigned to us, in fact we also decided it together with our professor. 2) The first step to address the topic was to divide it into 3 parts: History, Territory and Prevention. 3) The plan to do the work consisted in dividing the theme into 3 parts, then we made arrangements with the municipal engineer Fabio Minghini to establish a meeting on which we based our scientific report.
GROUP 3 - SEISMIC SAFETY AT SCHOOL -
Faccani Emanuele, Martelli Francesco, Randi Serena, Tellarini Federico
We enjoyed our theme because the assignments of our teacher depended on our preferences. Firstly we looked for information through the School collaborators, the headmaster assistant, the secretay and some teachers suggested by our teacher. To do this work we principally relied on the help of external collaborators as the engineer Minghini of the "Comuni della Bassa Romagna"; for the other things we didn't follow a definite schedule.
GROUP 4 - RAISING AWARNESS -
Baldini Karin, Boscarino Nicole, Gadooni Maria Fernanda, Asia Shahbaz
We couldn't decide on two themes to be addressed and in the end we were happy that we were assigned one of the two topics we had chosen and indeed we were enthusiastic because in the end it was fun and it was a way to learn while being outdoors. The first step was to prepare a questionnaire to understand if and to what extent people are informed about the defense from earthquakes to reduce the risk of getting hurt and then we distributed it in different classes and to some inhabitants of the city. We organized a list of things to do, such as integrating the data collected from the questionnaires and divide them according to the age group.
GROUP 5 - EARTHQUAKE SIMULATION -
Ballardini Daria, Cocchi Matilde, Dalpane Maria Giovanna, Gatti Eleonora
We were really happy because this topic allowed us to observe the phenomena that originate an earthquake, simulating different kinds of lands, buildings and consequences. Experiments were made in the physics laboratory in the afternoons, and the material to make the experiments was given by the school. Firstly we had to ask the technician for information of the physics laboratory about the tools we had to use for the simulations. We planned a program of experiments we had to make using the Sismo Box, adding some personal ones. The first simulations we made had to explain how an earthquake is originated, then we learned about the many damages they cause to buildings.
GROUP 6 - EARTHQUAKE PREVISION-
Dalpozzo Siomone, Fabbri Letizia, Gualandi Alessia, Lanconelli Marco
Since we had had the opportunity to choose the topic, we were happy for the ones assigned to us. At first, we called Paola Pescerelli Lagorio, who is the owner of Bendandi’s house, in order to visit it. She was really cooperative, in fact she gave us the opportunity to interview a professor of INGV(Alessandro Amato), who led some studies on Bendandi. After that, we wrote a report and finally we developed a PowerPoint to show our classmates our project.
Create
Description and guidelines:
In the “Create”-phase of the project, the students perform the main work. It consists of individual research, contact with universities, authorities in the town, museums and other institutions. This phase also contains the writing of a slide-presentation and a final report for each group.
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Describe the activities of your group in this phase.
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Reflect on your work.
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Did it go as planned?
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What was most difficult?
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Would you change anything if you could redo the work?
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Are you pleased with the work and the results?
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Have you learned something new? Comment!
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Do you think the method is effective as a learning process?
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GROUP 1 - SCENTIFIC DEEPENING -
Minguzzi Lorenzo, Minguzzi Teresa, Ragazzini Giorgia, Tazzari Benedetta
The research proceeded without particoular difficulties, even if we had a short time to complete it. The most problematic aspects we had to face were finding the right moment to meet up all together and choosig which topics we should talk about. If we could do our work again we wouldn't change anything because we managed to deepen the main points about earthquakes and we worked hard on this project. Moreover we have learnt many things, also thanks to a meeting with two univerisity professors, who explained us very well the most difficult topics about this theme very well. We appreciated the way the project went on, also because we could treat more in detail some aspects that at school normally we don't study. Then we consider working in groups a very costructive method.
GROUP 2 - MUNICIPALITY OF LUGO -
Giganti Francesco, Ricci Frabattista Edoardo, Ruani Francesco, Smecca Simone
Everything went smoothly. We drew up the report thanks to a preventive organization and the meeting with the engineer Minghini who deals with earthquakes in the municipality of Lugo. We didn’t find any kind of problem except for the lack of time but we resolved it with the postponement of the report delivery. discussing together we decided that we would not change anything if we could repeat the project. We are very happy with the work we have done and we have learnt many new things such as what constitutes the land on which we live and what would happen to our city in the case of an earthquake. We think that the method used by the professor was a good opportunity to learn in a different way.
GROUP 3 - SEISMIC SAFETY AT SCHOOL -
Faccani Emanuele, Martelli Francesco, Randi Serena, Tellarini Federico
Our group has been able to collaborate to write the presentation and make the PowerPoint thanks to meetings in the afternoons. In general we hoped to use less time because we already had clear ideas about all the structure of our project. Because of misunderstandings and unexpected mishaps, the meetings with the external collaborators have been posticipated a lot of times. If we could repeat this project we would contact the external collaborators earlier, aware of their overload of work and so their unpredictability for all the meetings. In general we enjoyed our work beacuse It was a formative experience. In fact we could extend our knowledge, particularly about our school. The used method has been effective as learning process beacause It permits both to develop cooperative abilities and learn the discussed topics in a different and creative way
GROUP 4 - RAISING AWARNESS -
Baldini Karin, Boscarino Nicole, Gadooni Maria Fernanda, Asia Shahbaz
We have distributed the questionnaire and then elaborated the data, writing a report about the subject matter. The job has proceded as planned, even though we have had some problems in meeting and selecting the candidates for the questionnaire. Maybe next time we should better organize the timing of the distribution of the questionnaries, but the resulting work is satisfying and we think that in this way students are more involved in learning and looking into the matter we have been assigned.
GROUP 5 - EARTHQUAKE SIMULATION -
Ballardini Daria, Cocchi Matilde, Dal Pane Maria Giovanna, Gatti Eleonora
Our group met in the physics laboratory in many afternoons and we made different simulations which were written on the Sismo Box guide. The most difficult thing was to find the right days when we were all free, as we had to conciliate this project and the school tasks. Moreover also understanding how to assemble and make the Sismo Box work has been a difficult thing, and to learn it we called a student that used this tool last year. The working method has been very useful, because with it we understood in a deepest way topics we would not study at school. Moreover working in groups we divided the main topics and thus we worked faster.We think that some parts of the project need to be changed: for example we would prefer to work in a more guided way. However thanks to this project we personally tested the phoenomena that originate an earthquake and the damages it can make.We put our knowledge, which was only theorical, to the test of practice. Studying is often theorical at school, so it could be interesting to experiment what we learn also on other occasions.To conclude we are satisfied of our work, as now we have a wider awareness about earthquakes, so we know how to defend ourselves if we need it.
GROUP 6 - EARTHQUAKE PREVISION -
Dal Pozzo Simone, Fabbri Letizia, Gualandi Alessia,Lanconelli Marco
First of all we went to the library in Faenza where we could analyze a lot of documents about earthquake prevision and Bendandi’s figure. In order to deepen this latter topic, we visited the dwelling where he lived and we could see instruments and calculations created by himself that aren’t completely understood yet. Then we interviews Paola Pescerelli Lagorio, one of the biggest experts of this scientist. Finally, we had the possibility of interviewing an INGV professor (Alessandro Amato), with whom we analyzed the aspect of prevision. In conclusion, our sources were organized in a report and a PowerPoint that will be presented to our classmates.