Konza Environmental Education Program
Schoolyard Long-term Ecological Research
Teachers' Workshops Report
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Konza Environmental Education Program Schoolyard Long-term Ecological Research Teachers' Workshops Report |
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INTRODUCTION
The Schoolyard Long-term Ecological Research (SLTER) program, through National Science Foundation (NSF)/Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) supplemental grants, provides funds for teachers’ workshops. Teachers in local school districts are invited to learn about Konza Prairie Biological Station and the research and management necessary to conserve the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Workshop participation also grants access to this LTER site and its personnel for the purpose of teaching the process of science using methods unique to the long-term research ecologists. Students of workshop alumni carry out research projects parallel or in addition to Konza Prairie research. The projects allow students to give something back to the site by generating new data of value to researchers while learning how scientists work. For more information on these projects, visit Science Adventures on Konza Prairie. Students input their collected data directly into Konza Environmental Education Program (KEEP) databases designed especially for KEEP SLTER. They can manipulate the data to produce graphs and reports from their classroom by accessing the KEEP website. The data entered into databases accumulates through the years, showing long-term trends unique to LTER research. Although individual students in the early years of data collection may not see these trends, teachers bring their classes back over several years and other teachers continue with the same projects, so the databases grow. Between 1999-2007, the Konza Prairie SLTER program hosted more than 250 science field trips, which impacted over 6,800 students. These students have added species of insects to the Konza Prairie stream macro-invertebrate, butterfly and grasshopper inventories, have taken unique data in the fire reversal study and contributed in many ways to the knowledge base of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The student-generated databases are available to anyone on the Internet within Science Adventures on Konza Prairie.
PRAIRIES ACROSS KANSAS A new project, "Prairies Across Kansas", funded for 2005 by the National Science Foundation and EHR, allows 5th-12th grade teachers from across Kansas the opportunity to cooperate with KEEP SLTER. This workshop is open to teachers from anywhere in Kansas, who would not be able to bring a class to Konza Prairie because of distance and cost. "Prairies Across Kansas" (PAK) allows teachers and students across the state to collect data at their own native prairie site near their school based on KEEP SLTER activities. From their classroom the data is entered into KEEP databases via the Internet. Data from various sites in different prairie ecosystems can be compared. The same protocols carried out at each location allow similarities and differences to become apparent over time. Teachers are expected to collect data annually with their students as a part of this long-term ecological research program. PAK program participation is an expansion of KEEP SLTER that could not be possible at Konza Prairie due to time, staff and volunteer limitations, and footprint on the research station. From 2005-2007, KEEP PAK teachers took 1,300 students on 74 science field trips to native prairie sites near their schools. For more information, visit "Prairies Across Kansas". Since 1999, there have been nine teachers' and eight technology workshops. Sixty-nine participants, thirty-two teachers in local school districts and thirty-seven "Prairies Across Kansas" teachers and volunteers, have graduated from the program. To meet the most recent workshop participants, visit Teacher Profiles. WORKSHOP GOALS
One of the objectives of the workshops is to discuss and evaluate the KEEP SLTER program. Konza Prairie LTER principal investigators, researchers, and docents (trained volunteers) join teachers and KEEP staff for these discussions. The network formed is a valuable resource between teachers, KEEP staff, and Konza Prairie scientists. The KEEP SLTER program directs ten science research activities, with correlation to National and Kansas State Science Education Standards. To view a complete description of KEEP SLTER science activities and the correlated National and Kansas State Science Education Standards, visit Activity Descriptions. During the workshop, teachers carry out each science activity with KEEP personnel. Because several project alternatives are offered, each teacher chooses one or more activities that fits classroom curriculum and interests. Long-term inventories and collections can be readily carried out by students. For example, collecting insects allows an authentic field research experience, helps students develop a class required collection, helps Konza Prairie acquire a reference collection of grasshoppers, and intermingles students with scientists, who share their research and teach students how to pin and identify the insects collected.
TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP
An outcome of the first KEEP SLTER workshop in 1999 was the creation of a set of guidelines for SLTER teachers outlining the role and responsibilities of teachers in the SLTER science program and during field trips, including participation, preparation, supervisory roles, and student expectations and recognition. To view the complete document, go to Field Trip Guidelines. Workshop participants anonymously evaluate the entire workshop and each science activity for clarity, appropriateness, and possible improvements. Teachers' evaluations are helpful to determine if science activities are clear and understandable, age appropriate, beneficial to their curriculum, and enjoyable. Evaluations also pinpoint weaknesses and strengths of the workshop and overall program. KEEP personnel summarize the evaluations to build on strengths and integrate improvements. The
overall evaluation of KEEP SLTER workshops has been very positive.
Teachers feel the background information, handouts and demonstrations are helpful. In their final evaluations, teachers have been particularly vocal about the importance of the positive role researchers play in the workshops, activities and discussions. Some specific comments have been:
To view the most recent evaluation, visit Workshop Evaluation.
ATTACHMENTS & ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS Workshop Schedule: 2008 2007 2006 2005 KPBS Collaborators: 2008 2007 2006 2005 Teachers' Profiles: 2008 2007 2006 2005 Classroom Units: 2008 2007 2006 2005 Workshop Evaluation: 2008 2007 2006 2005 SLTER Science Activity Descriptions |
