The Activity Monitoring Project

The Activity Monitoring Project (AMP), piloted by returning teachers in 2007, brings the essential connection between human and animal research to the forefront.   AMP puts returning teachers into the role of investigator, and new teachers into the role of human subject.

Rationale:

• Well established methods for activity monitoring in primates show a broad spectrum of activity patterns in free-roving social groups of macaques
• Increased levels of activity in this model correlate with health and alertness of individuals
• Teachers equipped with the same experimental tools - Actical activity monitors - design experiments and activities that will take the basic principles of the scientific method back to their classrooms

By working as the investigators in AMP, returning teachers gain a different insight into the scientific process, with issues surrounding human subject research adding a social dimension to the investigation.  The final product of AMP will be a series of classroom activities that can be replicated by other teacher teams both within and outside of the program.