Microhabitats and Biodiversity PBL w/ Technology!

Last summer our wonderful science department went on a department trip to D.C. for a Jason Learning conference.  While we were there, we were given a field experience in the Great Falls National Park. Using a netting, a pop-up table, rain boots and various hand tools, we looked for macro-invertebrates along a stream. Using a dichotomous key and pamphlet guides given to us by the program, we were able to determine the species present and determine if the stream was a healthy stream or not.

                         

We had a blast! Here we were, grown adults, and we didn’t want to get out of the stream for lunch. I can only imagine how excited our students would be if they were given the opportunity to do this. This activity covered multiple TEKS including abiotic/biotic factors, biodiversity, and dichotomous keys. As you can imagine, the teachers in us were completely geeking out. 


                       

My goal this semester to simulate this same activity on our campus. I’m meeting with our department chair to get the required materials to pull this off! I also want to leverage it further by including a pre-lab study and report at the end of the activity. Students would chart their data and type up a report in the library, and if time allows, present their findings in class.

      

I’m ready to give my students more LEARNING EXPERIENCES. I feel like real good learning makes you FEEL a certain way. You rarely get a feeling from a worksheet…unless that feeling is “oh geez”. I hope that by April I can post a follow-up blog with a success story!


-  Amanda Campos