"Noon Day Project" takes measure of earth, gains recognition from Eisenhower National Clearinghouse

HOBOKEN, N.J. - At Stevens Institute of Technology, an interactive K-12 Internet project offers teachers and students an opportunity to recreate an amazing experiment performed more than 2,200 years ago by Eratosthenes, the chief librarian in Alexandria, Egypt, who made a remarkably accurate measurement of the earth's north-south circumference.

Calling for online collaboration among teachers and students from schools throughout the world, "The Noon Day Project" asks participants to measure the length of a shadow cast by a stick a meter long; to share this data the electronically; to use scale drawings and a spreadsheet to make comparisons; and to use this information to estimate the circumference of the earth.

This activity is an opportunity for students to see how mathematics and science work together in explaining a real world phenomenon.

"The Noon Day Project," coordinated by Ihor Charischak, is one of many originated at Stevens' Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education (CIESE) which have received national and international recognition for their ability to connect with and instruct students the world over. Most recently, the Noon Day Project and Charischak were featured in the current issue of ENC Focus, the web magazine of the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education, an important information source on innovative international curricula.

"We have designed the project to be very flexible, providing teachers a variety of ways to approach the lessons depending on the amount of time available and the students' level," said Charischak. "Our web site outlines one possible scenario that would give teachers some ideas about how to proceed. Our intent was to create a very detailed, rich project that is flexible, but at the same time captures the spirit of Eratosthenes' discoveries. As project leader, I will be contributing regularly to our discussion board, is a very popular feature of this global telecollaborative project."

Registration began in the first week of March and the project is now in the "set the stage" phase, in which participants write a letter of introduction and submit it to the discussion area by March 15th. The project concludes with "Reflections & Final Reports," which are due by April 4th. At the end, students and teachers will have experienced a truly global collaboration. Currently there are 84 classes registered from the US, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. In New Jersey, fourteen schools have signed up. "This number will grow significantly as we enter the measurement phase of the project which began yesterday and lasts through the end of the month," said Charischak.

To access the "Noon Day Project" website, please visit www.ciese.org/noonday

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.  

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