Stimulating Understanding of Computational science through Collaboration, Exploration, Experiment, and Discovery for students with Hearing Impairments
a collaboration of the Shodor Education Foundation, Inc., Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf, Barton College, the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, and Interpreters, Inc.

For Teachers!

How does your hair know how long to grow?

Overview:

Hairs don't have nerves or eyes, but if they aren't cut they will always grow out to the same length. Each kind of hair grows to its own length. How do hairs "know" when to stop growing? In this exercise the students are introduced to the observed growth rates and lengths of phases in the hair growth cycle. Using computer models they compare these factors to develop a theory to explain how hairs "know" when to stop growing. 

As they work through the process they are introduced to the scientific concepts of verification and validation. As scientists, we need to verify that we have followed the directions correctly, i.e., did we put the right numbers into the equation? Scientists also need to validate their conclusions: "Is the answer reasonable? Did I use the correct equation?" 

Developed by
The Shodor Education Foundation, Inc.

Copyright © 1999-2001 by The Shodor Education Foundation, Inc.

This project is supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Science Foundation.