ALTERNATIVE PROJECT

STUDY SITE

Begin with an Ill-Structured and “messy” problem

How do the living and non-living components of the environment relate to each other?The study site project addresses the importance of an actual 3-D experience to a 2-D virtual experience when learning GIS.

Why is there a problem? BackgroundWhat is the problem? Problem QuestionWhat are the possible Hypothesis/solutions to the problem? ProcedureWhat would happen ifyou solved the problem in Data/Resultsthis way?What is the best solution?If you did this again how Conclusionwould you do it differently?

Skillful Problem Solving

Infusing the Teaching of Critical and Creative Thinking Into Content InstructionR. Swartz and S. Parks, 1994

Study Site Project

10 meter by 10 meter plot

Animals

Abiotic

Trees

Pitfall Traps

Vegetation/

Ground

Cover

Collect data using established procedures on:

Add Event Theme andDigitizing to Create a Group

Project

Develop Individual Procedure and collect data use Problem-Solving Graphic Organizer to Formulate

Problem QuestionIs plant stand affected by soil type?What type of relationship exists between the trees and ground cover, and the presence or absence of various animals?Which variables we studied within our study site are most conductive to a higher spider population? Does baiting the pitfall traps increase the number and diversity of numbers of animals that are attracted to or fall into the traps?

Greater numbers and a higher diversity of insects were found

in sunny, grassy areas

More spiders were found on loamy moist soil in the leaf litter

Ant density is higher on the leaf litter/grass margin

Plant (corn) stands were significantly higher in Ponzer soil

than Arapahoe and Dragston

Due dates:

Survey of project choice April 8

Miniproject due April 15

Group alternative project with individual procedure due April 24

Final project or alternative projectdue May 13