The Ventusky application is accessible to anyone around the world, aimed at improving awareness about meteorological events in our atmosphere. Through the use of animated arcs, Ventusky's visualization clearly differentiates the direction of movement and height of both wind waves and swells. For the other meteorological elements, color scales appropriately illustrate precipitation, air pressure, and temperature. The colors correspond with the feeling that the given weather phenomena evokes in us. For temperature, blue illustrates cool weather while dark red depicts hot desert air. For precipitation blue colors represent low precipitation totals that will not result in floods. Orange and red hues, on the other hand, are dangerous and may bring flooding.
Type of Material:
Animation
Recommended Uses:
Users can check a plethora of wind and weather conditions in real time anywhere in the world. Much like Google Maps, users can drag the map around and zoom in and out. This rich and colorful data can certainly be used in a variety of ways from homework assignments to self-paced investigations, to classroom or group presentations. Users could compare weather on different dates (currently material is available from June 2016 to the present), make predictions, and examine conditions in different areas of the globe. Because of its engaging displays, the site would help interest students in weather.
Technical Requirements:
Computer website. Also, at the present time, an application for the iOS platform is available (see iTunes). An application for Android is currently being developed. On the other platforms, you can use websites in the mobile phone that are optimised for displaying on a smaller screen.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The website, which is free, gives users the opportunity to choose any worldwide location and find temperature, snow cover, winds, waves, precipitation and many other weather factors. The selected information is displayed in beautifully colored charts in real time. Users can modify dates and times along with the information they seek. The site is aimed at improving awareness about meteorological events in our atmosphere.
Target Student Population:
Upper elementary students and educators through adults will find the data and its continuous animation both informative and intriguing.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Understanding of basic weather terms would be helpful, though no prerequisite knowledge is necessary.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
Ventusky is using live data from around the world for it maps. Temperature, precipitation, clouds, wind, air pressure, thunderstorms, waves, snow, and freezing level can all be viewed and followed globally or in a specific area. This tracking can be done by time as well for the present or the past. Users can also adjust the settings of the animations including the transparency of the layers, the language, and resolution. This certainly allows educators to feature or emphasize their particular focus of these mesmerizing animations. The site is visually attractive, clear, and displays multiple functions.
Concerns:
There are no lesson plans in the website or app. However, there is a help section that does include a user guide as well as an explanation of the different elements of the site.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Because Ventusky focuses on meteorological data visualization, the maps are visually appealing, no matter your language. Users can be arm-chair travelers or actually plan trips by land, by sea, or by air. This would certainly be appealing as an assignment for students because of the data and map reviewing needed to successfully complete the task. Educators can target a specific weather phenomena and use it to introduce a concept, global issue, or environmental issue. Furthermore, users can search for a specific country, city or location and then investigate the interactive modes such as cloud coverage, temperature, and wind speeds at various altitudes. Taking that even further, users can then check these same points on a past date in that location. This learning material can be readily integrated into curriculum with thoughtful consideration. Ventusky can be used in a variety of ways by educators, groups of students, or and individual to meet target learning goals.
Concerns:
Educators will need to develop their own lesson plans to use with Ventusky.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The visual layout and organization of the real-time weather data is clean, clear, and intuitive. The Help section of the Ventusky web site provide a User Guide that highlights how to get the most from the site's search engine, using the timeline, understanding the altitude feature, changing units of measurement, choosing appropriate numerical models, and providing a description of the many variables. Users can easily zoom in or out and move to any location on the global map.
Settings can be adjusted for the application, for the animations, and for the weather map itself. The language can be selected for the web site. There is a FAQ section that explains and answers several common questions for users. Sharing options from Ventusky include creating a link, create a screenshot, creating live screenshot, and embedding it through Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Reddit, VK, and email. There is currently an app for available for the iOS platform in iTunes (January, 2018 cost is $2.99). Preparation for an Android app is currently underway.
Concerns:
None.
Creative Commons:
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