Group 4 Reflection

• Hypothesis!
• Group 18's hypothesis was that high water flow would have lower water temperature and different soil contents than in areas with lower water flow. We (Justine, Ben Porter, Savannah and I) predicted that we would find high water flow at the beach and in deep waters, while low water flow would be in the marsh and shallow areas.
• Gaining Data!
• Getting the data was a challenge at our first site. We had to use a soil collector that was very touchy. To use it we had to drop it into the water slowly and then pull on the rope so it would clamp down. It was difficult because we would pull too soon, or the water pressure would make it clamp upon hitting the water's surface. We only had this issue at this site, but we worked it out by moving the collector to a shallower location on the opposite side of the inlet. The next location was easy to get data, as we simply took a sample from the shallow shore. But our third site was out deeper, in which I had to go deep in the water. It was cold, and I tried to rush data collection. The third site was at the ocean and we began having issues with our temperature probe. The readings were way off, and after much discussion and attempts to fix it, we finally figured out what was wrong. A button was mistakenly pressed on the LabQuest, causing the readings to be escalated. Another big equipment issue was our flow meeter. It didnt seem to pick up any water flow in the shallow areas, even though we could SEE the water flowing. ( I could also feel the current while I was in the water myself.) The flow meeter did pick up data in the ocea when the flow seemed to be highly more significant.
• Working with Group 18!
• Working with Group 18 was such an experience. I'd never worked with Ben on anything before, I've previously worked with Savannah often in Theatre class, and I worked with Justine last year all through physics. We really got along. We were open with suggestions and oppinions, we never got ourselves distracted. We were always on task and focused on what we were doing. Each of us participated equally, I think. I did a lot of data collection, along with Ben. We were the ones in the water collecting soil, getting temperature, and it was great. He and I were able to work well together, and we had fun doing so. Savannah was the one who took down a lot of the data, and she, along with Justine, worked to identify the soil type and its contents. Justine took most of the pictures and put together our powerpoint and data electronically through GoogleDocs. I really don't think there were any problems with the group and working together. We never aruged or disagreed in an unprofessional way. We listened to every idea and tried them all.
• Knowing!
• The data we collected was data I can trust. The LabQuest measured the temperatures electronically, which has its faults and errors, but it was still an accurate reading. I just completed a lab in physics in which we comparred how the electronic thermometer and an alcohol thermometer measured data and they were almost exactly the same. I trust this data because I have seen it work, I have been told it works, and I experienced using it. The soil identification was done by Savannah. I trust her because she is in Enviromental Studies, she has learned about soil and its types and what the contents mean, so I know our data for the soil id was accurate and correct.