1) Researchers at Ehime University developed tactile tools for teaching dendrochronology concepts to visually impaired students.
2) The tools include embossed tree ring samples of different Japanese tree species that allow students to comprehend tree ring patterns through touch.
3) A curriculum was implemented with junior high and high school students using the tactile samples to learn about tree ring formation, patterns, and what they indicate about past environmental conditions.
1. Tree-ring tools
designed for teaching dendrochronology
to visually impaired students
- Dendropedagogical approach -
Osamu Kobayashi*1
Yoko Takei*2
Wakana Umakoshi*3
*1 The University Forest, Ehime University
*2 School for the Visually Impaired,
University of Tsukuba
*3 Hashikurayamaso, Ikeda Hakuaikai
Social Welfare Corp.
2. The role of dendrochronology in
environmental science
Dendrochronology is successfully
revealing past history of environmental
changes.
Dendrochronology contributed in
raising academic/public awareness to
changes in the global environment.
7th ICD
2006 International Tree-Ring Data Bank (ITRDB 2000)
Kobayashi et al http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/treering.html
http://www.ngdc.noaa. gov/paleo/treering.html
3. Tree rings are…
multidisciplinary teaching tools
For example…. Tree rings can…
Wood anatomy
Tree physiology
Forest ecology
Forest dynamics
Global changes
7th ICD
2006
Kobayashi et al Micro Macro/Local Global
4. The role of dendrochronology in
environmental education
Scouting
Direct influence
Young scientists
Getting Public
Funded! (Individuals)
Dendrochronologists
Government
Authorities
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2006 DENDRO-PEDAGOGY
Kobayashi et al
Rubino D.L. and MacCarthy, B.C. (2002)
5. Dendropedagogical Tools
Difficult when applying
the tools to teach
dendrochronology
to visual impaired
"Try Skeleton Plotting for Yourself!”
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Paul R. Sheppard (1998)
2006
Kobayashi et al
6. Development of embosed tree rings
that can be comprehended
by tactile senses
7th ICD
2006
Kobayashi et al
7. Hinoki cypress
(Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.)
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2006
Kobayashi et al
8. Japanese chestnut
(Castanea crenata Sieb. et Zucc.)
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2006
Kobayashi et al
9. Redvein maple
(Acer rufinerve Sieb. et Zucc.)
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2006
Kobayashi et al
11. Curriculum
Four classes with a total of 12 junior high and
16 high school students.
Time spent for each class was 110 minutes.
Following topics took place in class…
Grasping the outer appearance of a tree.
Understanding the inside appearance of the tree.
Imagine how tree ring looks like.
Observing tree rings trough tactile senses.
Where does the tree ring come from?
Are the number of rings same from the bottom to the top?
What makes the difference in the widths of tree rings ?
What tree rings tell
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2006
Kobayashi et al
12. Student s findings 1
Ring widths
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The height of the bulge at latewood
2006
Kobayashi et al
Stiffness and weight (wood density)
13. Sorting the disks to the heights
where it was sampled
Students must recognize Not a big deal !
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The diameter of the disk Too easy for them
2006
Kobayashi et al
The number of rings
14. Listen carefully….
Tree-ring music profiles
From
WHITE MOUNTAINS MASTER CHRONOLOGY
PILO 604
CALIFORNIA BRISTLECONE PINE 03724-11810
-5141 1962
C. W. FERGUSON, EDMUND SCHULMAN, H. C.
FRITTS
Obtained from ITRDB
Listening to the period
-5000 to 4801
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2006
Kobayashi et al
15. Principles of transferring RW
into music notes
Periods of continuous wide rings
Rapid growth -->
High pitch and fast phonetic value
Periods of continuous narrow rings
Slow growth -->
Low pitch and slow phonetic value
7th ICD
2006
Kobayashi et al
16. Dated
Audiological crossdating ? UnDated
7th ICD
2006
Kobayashi et al
17. Future aims
To enhance their knowledge in
dendrochronology and environmental
science in general…
Practical ring-width measurement
Experiencing cross-dating
Skeleton plot making
Understanding micro-scale tree-ring
structures
7th ICD
2006
Kobayashi et al
18. Challenging issues in the field
of dendropedagogy
Methodology of teaching suitable dendrochronology
in each development stage
Kindergarten
Elementary school
Junior high school
Higher education
Social communities
Evaluation of the impact
Knowledge transfer
Technical transfer
changes in the consciousness of environmental issues.
7th ICD Along with developing valuation methods
2006
Kobayashi et al