Objectives of this Workshop

This workshop and doctoral dissertation study will introduce teachers of Escambia County to the field of image processing. A project based environmental scenario, Hurricane Opal, along with specific tutorials, will provide the vehicle to learn this unique process. This workshop will use the project as a means to develop basic imaging techniques such as measuring areas and distances, density slicing, digital elevation models, particle analysis, and animation. It is designed for the teacher who has regular access to an Internet-connected computer, as it will be delivered entirely online.

The following software (all freeware) is required for the workshop:

• NIH Image (Mac) or Scion Image (PC)
• Aladdin Expander (software decompression utility)

Teachers will need only their normal Internet browser such as Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer and an e-mail account. Teachers and the on-line facilitator will interact with each other regularly by e-mail, threaded discussion and on-line chat throughout the duration of the workshop, Teacher comments and observations about the materials, and particularly the project, can be shared, enabling each teacher to learn from the insight and experience of others.

Although this workshop is scheduled for six weeks, the number of hours a week to spend is up to the individual. In most cases, teachers can expect to commit 20- 25 hours during the six week time frame of this in-service. At the end of the workshop teachers will be acquainted with the nature of image processing. They will be able to apply the techniques to a variety of images.

Although this is primarily a "how-to" workshop, it is not structure in the traditional manner where one is taught the technique and then apply the technique. Instead, the Opal project requires teachers to use the available techniques described and provided for within the site to analyze the various aspects of the project.

After completing this workshop, participants will be able to accomplish the following procedures using NIH / Scion Image:

• Controlling the brightness and contrast of an image
• Measuring distances, lengths, and areas in an image
• Density slicing
• Particle analysis
• Density calibration
• Digital Elevation Model (DEM) calibrations
• Animate a sequence of images

Once these basic processes are understood, the participant will be able to take any image and apply basic image enhancements and analysis to it. The NIH image home page has an on-line image processing demo to try, but you must have a Java enabled browser to accomplish the procedures.

Submission of all work will be accomplished through e-mail or forms.