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Asia-Pacific Forum on Science
Learning and Teaching, Volume 5, Issue 2, Article 5 (Aug., 2004) Isaac Pak Hoi TSE, Winston Kwok Kuen LEUNG and Shing Yi CHAN Science, Technology and Society - An authentic exploration on IR thermometers application in schools
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The Problems of using IR non-contact thermometers
The common practice for schools is to check students' body temperature at the school gate. The school gate is the boundary between open space and the enclosed environment. Our purpose is to prevent sick students from entering crowded classrooms. The school gate area is susceptible to the influence of natural breeze, humidity and variations in temperature of the surroundings. Students may also show a higher body temperature after walking, or running to school.
To our surprise, operators of different hand-held IR non-contact thermometer devices reported that temperature reading dropped beyond explanations. Early in the morning, the readings on the IR thermometer were near normal (38.5°C). Then readings dropped consistently after half an hour of operation. Indications were below normal for all students trusted to have a normal temperature. This phenomenon persisted every morning. Moreover, different IR thermometer models varied in different ways.
School administration can be held accountable if the fatal SARS or H5N1 Avian flu is transmitted in the classroom environment due to the school's failure to screen out the sick students. We began to conduct a systematic scientific investigation. This proved to be a continuous learning process for both our students and staffs. We realized our scientific deductions are tentative no matter how many times we reflected over our findings. Our empirical theory was always new hypothesis about the most appropriate application of the tools.
Copyright (C) 2004 HKIEd APFSLT. Volume 5, Issue 2, Article 5 (Aug., 2004). All Rights Reserved.
