Annual Meeting > ESA Annual Meeting 2008

High School Educators’ Ecological Literacy and Research Day

On Wednesday, August 6, there will be a High School Educators’ Ecological Literacy and Research Day held during the (ESA) Ecological Society of America’s 93rd Annual Meeting in Milwaukee. The events of the day are open to registrants of the ESA Annual Meeting.

The ESA Educator Literacy and Research Day focuses on how high school educators can integrate ecological literacy and research into their teaching practice and answer the question: Just what is ESA doing to link ecological literacy, research and the high school educator?

How do you get started?

You just need to register at www.esa.org/education_diversity/hseducator_registration.php. This day-long event begins with an orientation to ESA and the program for the day. Next, you are off to the morning Symposium: Ecological Literacy for All presented by leaders in the field of ecology that help you find your ecological “voice.” Then enter into a discussion of your findings with your peers.

Next on the agenda is the Plenary Session, Advances in Research presented by Diane Ebert-May of Michigan State University followed by the afternoon OOS: Training Biology Teachers in Ecological Research. Immediately after this presentation take part in a hands-on workshop, Population Halved AS Invasive Mussels Rule presented by Dr. Russell Cuhel, a microbiologist from the UWM-Great Lakes WATER Institute, to explore how to utilize ecological issues to do real research in the classroom. A full complement of papers in ecology and education are presented in afternoon poster sessions ending with a hearty wrap up discussion.

Additional Opportunities for High School Educators
AGENDA: Enhancing Ecological Thought by Linking Research and Education

7:00 AM-8:00 AM (by invitation only)
Part 1: ESA Educator Day Breakfast: Inquiry Approaches to Ecological Principles in the Classroom
What is ESA and What Can It Do For You?
Ecological Principles: How Can Educators Clarify?
What Are We Doing Today to Link Ecological Literacy, Research, and Education?

8:00 AM – 11:30 AMPart 2: SYMP 12: Ecological Literacy for All

8:00 AM	[Abstract]	Ecological literacy: What do we mean and how did we get here? Carol A. Brewer, University of Montana, Brooke McBride, University of Montana, Diane Smith, Montana State University, Alan R. Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
8:30 AM	[Abstract]	Essential elements of ecological literacy and the pathways needed for all citizens to achieve it Alan R. Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Carol Brewer, University of Montana, Brooke McBride, University of Montana
9:00 AM	[Abstract]	Ecological literacy and environmental education Bora Simmons, National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education
9:30 AM		Break
9:40 AM	[Abstract]	Ecological literacy and science education Charles W. Anderson, Michigan State University
10:10 AM	[Abstract]	Ecological Literacy as Currency for Innovation Dayna Baumeister, The Biomimicry Guild
10:40 AM	[Abstract]	Ecological literacy and fostering conversation and engagement in the human ecosystem Chris Boone, Arizona State University, Steward T. A. Pickett, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Mary L. Cadenasso, UC Davis

11:00 AM-12:15 PM
Part 3 ESA Educator Day Discussion: How Can Teachers and Students Develop an Ecological Voice? Buy lunch and enter into an Informal Table Topic Discussion

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Part 4: Advances in Research—Diane Ebert-May

1:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Part 5: Training Biology Teachers in Ecological Research

1:30 PM – 3:10 PM
ESA Educator Day Hands-on-Workshop: Population Halved As Invasive Mussel Rule
Dr. Russell Cuhel, Scientist University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Great Lakes WATER Institute.

3:20 PM – 4:40 PM

3:20 PM	[Abstract]	Teachers and Pitfall Trapping Experimentation across 5 LTER sites Andrew Moldenke, Oregon State University
3:40 PM	[Abstract]	Teachers on the Prairie: Models of schoolyard adaptations of ecological research John C. Moore, Colorado State University, Kimberly Melville-Smith, Colorado State University
4:00 PM	[Abstract]	Teachers in the Desert: Creating ecological research opportunities for teachers and students on the US-Mexico border Stephanie V. Bestelmeyer, Asombro Institute for Science Education, Rink Somerday, Asombro Institute for Science Education
4:20 PM	[Abstract]	Teachers in the Woods: Qualitative conceptual modeling, research experiences and conceptual change Marion Dresner, Portland State University
4:40 PM	[Abstract]	Bringing current ecological research to the classroom through inquiry-based activities that utilize actual scientific methods Larisa R. G. DeSantis, University of Florida and Florida Museum of Natural History

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Part 6: ESA Conference Posters with a Focus On Teachers and Ecology

6:30 PM
Part 7: Wrap-Up Discussion: What Did We Learn?

DETAILED AGENDA

7:00 AM-8:00 AM
Part 1: Opening Educator Breakfast: Inquiry Approaches to Incorporating Ecological Principles into the Classroom: Linking Research and Education (by invitation only)
This session, with its breakfast, is the formal opening of the ESA Teacher Strand for twenty- five regional high school educators. This session sets the stage for educators to present their needs regarding improving their ability to incorporate ecological literacy and research into their instructional practice and what ESA can do to help them meet these needs. An overall research question is set for the day: How can ecological literacy and research be incorporated into the high school curriculum?

What is ESA and What Can It Do For You?
Speaker: Member of the ESA Education Committee

Ecological Principles: How Can Teachers Clarify?
Speaker from the Literacy Symposium, Meg Lowman

What Are We Doing Today to Link Ecological Literacy, Research, and Education?
Speaker: Member of the ESA Educator Strand reviewing the day’s agenda.

Materials: Teacher Packet with references to online resources, citations, formal education programs such as Project Learning Tree, SEED, NODE Online real data project.

Organizer: Dave Oberbilling
Co-organizer: DC Randle

8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Part 2: SYMP 12: Ecological Literacy for All

ESA Regional teachers will participate in the symposium Ecological Literacy for All to join in a scholarly and visionary look at the vital topic of ecological literacy for all citizens. They will be encouraged to examine why a strong and clear voice about universal ecological literacy from the ecological community will contribute to the broader educational movements for environmental citizenship and sustainability in important ways. Teachers will specifically examine the need for ecologists to provide a clear vision from the field, to connect to other disciplines and look to the future and consider if they too are part of that voice.
Teachers then will listen to the following orals before attending an open discussion with their peers.

8:00 AM	[Abstract]	Ecological literacy: What do we mean and how did we get here? Carol A. Brewer, University of Montana, Brooke McBride, University of Montana, Diane Smith, Montana State University, Alan R. Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
8:30 AM	[Abstract]	Essential elements of ecological literacy and the pathways needed for all citizens to achieve it Alan R. Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Carol Brewer, University of Montana, Brooke McBride, University of Montana
9:00 AM	[Abstract]	Ecological literacy and environmental education Bora Simmons, National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education
9:30 AM		Break
9:40 AM	[Abstract]	Ecological literacy and science education Charles W. Anderson, Michigan State University
10:10 AM	[Abstract]	Ecological Literacy as Currency for Innovation Dayna Baumeister, The Biomimicry Guild
10:40 AM	[Abstract]	Ecological literacy and fostering conversation and engagement in the human ecosystem Chris Boone, Arizona State University, Steward T. A. Pickett, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Mary L. Cadenasso, UC Davis

11:00 AM-12:15 PM
Part 3 ESA Educator Day Discussion: How Can Teachers and Students Develop an Ecological Voice? Buy lunch and enter into an Informal Table Topic Discussion

Based on the research question suggested at the breakfast (How can ecological literacy and research be incorporated into the high school curriculum?) teachers will work in small groups hosted by ESA members to dialogue about how their students can develop an Ecological voice based on what they learned from the symposium and orals and how they can incorporate ecology into their teaching practice. There views will be shared with the larger group with in this session.

Organizer: Graduate GK-12 Fellows organized by Jennifer Doherty
Organizer: Doug Glasenopp

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
Part 4: Plenary Talk: Advances in Research— Diane Ebert-May
The regional educators will attend this session to gain background and an overview on research in ecology. This session will lay the groundwork for the hands-on workshop presented later in the day.

1:30 PM – 4:40 PM
Part 5: Training Biology Teachers in Ecological Research
Regional teachers will participate in Training Biology Teachers in Ecological Research to consider how many science classes lack the authenticity that makes science meaningful and exciting. Further they will explore how to teach science using inquiry techniques utilizing the environment as an educational context. The teachers then will be challenged how not only work in the field, but what to do with the data they collect there. This session stresses the importance of collecting data, follow-through data analysis, through the development of conclusions, to writing up results. Teachers will also be encouraged to consider working with computer modeling to present complex ecological topics to students.

1:30 PM – 3:10 PM
ESA Educator Day Hands-on-Workshop: Population Halved As Invasive Mussel Rule
Dr. Russell Cuhel, Scientist University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Great Lakes WATER Institute.
Regional Teachers will use inquiry to and research techniques to collect real data from field research done by Dr. Russell Cuhel. He will present a problem from his own research on competing populations that can be measured to explore their impact. The Problem: The volume of prey fish in Lake Michigan has crashed at the same time numbers of invasive mussels have exploded. Biologists are worried about what the mussel explosion could do to Great Lakes’ multibillion-dollar fishing industry. How can the problem be examined and reported on? Teachers will use hands-on research techniques learn to collect, catalog, analyze, and present poster findings. All research techniques can be transferred to other field situations.

Organizer: Caroline Joyce, UW-Milwaukee JASON Project and Great Lakes Sturgeon Bowl
3:20 PM – 4:40 PM

3:20 PM	[Abstract]	Teachers and Pitfall Trapping Experimentation across 5 LTER sites Andrew Moldenke, Oregon State University
3:40 PM	[Abstract]	Teachers on the Prairie: Models of schoolyard adaptations of ecological research John C. Moore, Colorado State University, Kimberly Melville-Smith, Colorado State University
4:00 PM	[Abstract]	Teachers in the Desert: Creating ecological research opportunities for teachers and students on the US-Mexico border Stephanie V. Bestelmeyer, Asombro Institute for Science Education, Rink Somerday, Asombro Institute for Science Education
4:20 PM	[Abstract]	Teachers in the Woods: Qualitative conceptual modeling, research experiences and conceptual change Marion Dresner, Portland State University
4:40 PM	[Abstract]	Bringing current ecological research to the classroom through inquiry-based activities that utilize actual scientific methods Larisa R. G. DeSantis, University of Florida and Florida Museum of Natural History

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Part 6: ESA Poster Session with a Focus On Teachers and Ecology
This session should feature posters on Ecological Literacy and the Educator. It has been recommended that some small tables to be placed in the poster area where other ESA members can meet with the Regional teachers to answer questions.
Also it is recommended that representatives from programs such as SEED, Project Learning Tree and others put up displays during this time for teachers to interact with.

Organizer: All

6:30 PM
Part 7: Wrap-Up Discussion: What Did We Learn?
This is a short wrap-up that begins with the opening question and what teachers have learned though out the day about Linking Research and Education.
How can ecological literacy and research be incorporated into the high school curriculum?

Organizer: All