Fun Activities from a Project-based Online Ecology Course

Steven BrewerBiology Department

University of Massachusetts Amherst

Massachusetts Environmental Education Society

2009

Science Education Online

On-line Masters Degree in Science Educationfor in-practice teachers in remote areas

to maintain licensure.

BIOL597B: Organisms: Diversity and Interactions

Proposed in 2001-2002

Developed in 2003 with Buzz Hoagland (WSC)

Taught in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008

Textbooks

Bloom, J. 2006. Creating a Classroom Community of Young Scientists 2nd Edition. Routledge.

Eastman, J. 1992. Forest & Thicket: Trees, Shrubs, and Wildflowers of Eastern North America. Stackpole Books.

Online Format

Drupal (free content management system)

Instructor questions & commentary

Blogs: weekly project updates

Image-sharing & commentary

Weekly electronic chat

Collaborative final reports

Project-based Learning

● Constructivist● Collaborative● Open-ended● Hands-on●

● Problem-posing● Problem-solving● Peer persuasion

Fun with Observations

???

Observation

A Year in the Life of a Tree

Find an iconic tree from a native habitat.

Conduct weekly observations for 14 weeks.

Post observations, measurements, and imagery.

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Compost Column Projects

Create three “Bottle Biology” Compost Columns

1) Just leaves

2) Vermiculture

3) Research / Collaborative

Schoolyard Enhancement Plan

Select area of school-yard to enhance

Identify non-native species

Propose native replacements to increase wildlife

Final Projects

Find an ecology activityDo the activity yourself

Describe how you adapted the activity

Fun with Google Maps

???

Acknowledgments

Tom HoogendykBuzz Hoagland (WSC)

Fall 2009 Students of BIOL597B

Kathy DavisSteve Schneider

George DrakeChris Hoogendyk

Where are they really?

1. Hadley, MA, USA

2. Pouso Alegre, BR

3. Saint-Mathais-sur-Richelieu, CA

4. Central China

5. Kaolack, Senegal

6. Goehner, Nebraska

7. Chiba, Japan

8. Saint Marc, Haiti

9. Berkum, Germany

10. Grozny, Chechnya