Interpreting Digital Images
Teacher’s Guide
July, 2004 Edition
Created by John Pickle and Jacqueline Kirtley Contents Introduction...... 3 Appendix: Description of Activities ...... 4 Software Settings ...... 30 Activity 1: Three-Color Light ...... 7 To set both colors and Activity 2: Pictures and Colors ..... 12 screen size: ...... 30 Activity 3: Exploring & MixingColor ...... 30 Measuring Light ...... 17 TriColor ...... 31 Activity 4: Displaying Game_TriColor ...... 31 Invisible Light ...... 19 Report_TriColor ...... 32 Activity 5: Using Analysis Tools .... 23 PixelView ...... 32 Activity 6: Satellite Analysis ...... 27 ColorPicture ...... 33 MergePictures ...... 34 SplitColors ...... 34 ImageAnalysis ...... 36 FalseColor ...... 39 SurfaceType ...... 40 LandSatAnalysis ...... 41 VegetationAnalysis ...... 45 Global Systems Science Interpreting Digital Images—TeacherAcknowledgements guide ...... 1 47 Satellite image courtesy of the United States Geological Society (USGS) from their web site: http://edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/earthshots/slow/tableofcontents
Interpreting Digital Images (IDI) is a part of the Global Systems Science (GSS) curriculum materials. http://lhs.berkeley.edu/GSS/
Copyright 2003 by the Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
IDI is a joint project of the Museum of Science, Boston and Lawrence Hall of Science
2 Global Systems Science Interpreting Digital Images—Teacher Guide Introduction This Interpreting Digital Images (IDI) teacher guide has materials for teachers and answers to questions in the student booklet. The student booklet is available as a separate document. Each activity is designed to take one class period of 45 minutes. However, some of the concepts are complicated. Extra classes would provide greater familiarity with the fundamental concepts. There are suggested extensions for additional classes. Goals A picture is worth a thousand words—and a million data points if one knows how to manipulate the image. The goals of IDI are to explore concepts and develop skills in analyzing a wide range of digital images. The six activities in IDI are designed to isolate and then integrate key concepts and skills in order to learn to manipulate, analyze, and interpret the data displayed in digital images. Software programs and hands-on activities have been designed to develop concrete understanding of color, light, and imagery. IDI supports scientific explorations related to the Global Systems Science high school curriculum (http:// lhs.berkeley.edu/gss). We are firmly entrenched in an era of technology