Katherine Smith

Smith's "Student Scientists Doing Real Field Work" takes eighth-grade students on an actual dig to a local trilobite quarry. There, as scientists, mathematicians, writers, photographers, computer and equipment technicians, and team leaders, the students collect information. From this they produce interpretive quarry brochures using desktop publishing software, slide shows to present to fourth-grade students, a trilobite Web site that includes a virtual tour of the quarry and lesson plans, and other material. The project produces a high quality learning experience by letting students learn first-hand experience, apply their knowledge, teach others, and use the knowledge to benefit others.