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Middle School

Waves and Their Applications in Technologies for Information Transfer

 

Students who demonstrate understanding can:

Performance Expectations
 

 

Integrate qualitative scientific and technical information to support the claim that digitized signals are a more reliable way to encode and transmit information than analog signals. MS-PS4-3

Clarification Statement and Assessment Boundary

Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on a basic understanding that waves can be used for communication purposes. Examples could include using fiber optic cable to transmit light pulses, radio wave pulses in wifi devices, and conversion of stored binary patterns to make sound or text on a computer screen.

Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include binary counting. Assessment does not include the specific mechanism of any given device.

Science and Engineering Practices

Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information in 6–8 builds on K–5 experiences and progresses to evaluating the merit and validity of ideas and methods.

Integrate qualitative scientific and technical information in written text with that contained in media and visual displays to clarify claims and findings. (MS-PS4-3)

Disciplinary Core Ideas

PS4.C:  Information Technologies and Instrumentation

Digitized signals (sent as wave pulses) are a more reliable way to encode and transmit information. (MS-PS4-3)

Crosscutting Concepts

Structure and Function

Structures can be designed to serve particular functions. (MS-PS4-3)

Connections to Engineering, Technology, and Applications of Science

Influence of Science, Engineering, and Technology on Society and the Natural World

Technologies extend the measurement, exploration, modeling, and computational capacity of scientific investigations. (MS-PS4-3)

Common Core State Standards Connections

ELA/Literacy
  • RST.6-8.1 - Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts. (MS-PS4-3)
  • RST.6-8.2 - Determine the central ideas or conclusions of a text; provide an accurate summary of the text distinct from prior knowledge or opinions. (MS-PS4-3)
  • RST.6-8.9 - Compare and contrast the information gained from experiments, simulations, video, or multimedia sources with that gained from reading a text on the same topic. (MS-PS4-3)
  • WHST.6-8.9 - Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis reflection, and research. (MS-PS4-3)