MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State University police ticket a speeder in a school zone along University Avenue while students videotape the action.

What could be a scene from television’s "Cops" is actually part of a technology education project involving fourth and fifth grade students at Burris Laboratory School.

James Kirkwood, professor of industry and technology, led student research into transportation patterns around the university-operated school at the edge of Ball State’s campus.

"It’s difficult for Burris students to cross University Avenue," Kirkwood said. "Cars often speed through the crossing light and there’s no place for parents to pull off when dropping off their children."

Students began mapping the neighborhood surrounding the school, studying how cars and people interact.

"They surveyed the number of cars stopping from 7:45 to 8 a.m.," Kirkwood said. "They counted 30 cars dropping off more than 60 children."

The students learned how to measure the speed of cars. Their video record of traffic on University Avenue included footage of police stopping a motorist clocked at 47 mph in the 20 mph school zone.

Students also turned to the Internet to research and document Indiana codes governing placement of traffic signs in school zones. Parents became involved by taking students to other schools to observe traffic and sign placement.

"I tried to impress upon the students the need for accurate research," Kirkwood said.

Findings are displayed on a four-foot square three dimensional map of the Burris area which charts parking and traffic controls discovered in the study.

Kirkwood and the students have also assembled an audio-visual presentation outlining their findings, featuring the student-produced videos. The goal is to form a School Crossing Protection Committee at Burris.

"By the end of the month we hope to give the presentation to university and city planners and code enforcement officers to see if we can effect any changes," Kirkwood said.

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information about this story or how to reach the source, contact Anthony Barker at 765-285-1560 or tbarker@wp.bsu.edu.)