ecosy stem s. u sing ecology. as an integrating context. for stem education. meg edstrom, outreach...

ecosySTEMs.using Ecology .

as an Integrating Context . for STEM Education .

Meg Edstrom, Outreach Director Ferry Beach Ecology School

NEEEA Conference, Newport, RI November 2nd, 2013

ecosySTEMsUsing Ecology as an Integrating Context for STEM

Education

• Welcome, Intros & Expectations • Warm-Up

Intro to Ferry Beach Ecology School“ecosySTEMs!”

Next Generation Science Standards

• Action: Intro STEM Field Experience“The ABCs of Field Ecology”

• Application

Ferry Beach ~ Saco, Maine

Campus Located on Saco Bay & 7 miles of sand beach

Driving distance between Boston and Ferry Beach = ~90 minutes

What is FERRY BEACH

ECOLOGY SCHOOL?The Science of Ecology and

The Practice of Sustainability

• Overnight ecology programs on our coastal campus

• Schoolyard and classroom ecology outreach programs to schools

• Field trips at Ferry Beach• Summer camps and programming

for students and families• Community ecology programs and events• Educator curriculum resources and field

guides• Narrative education in the service of good

teaching

Ferry Beach Ecology SchoolMission & Programs

Non-profit Educational Organization

Ecology Education, Inc. founded in 1998**Over 100,000 Children & Adults have participated in FBES’**

Interdisciplinary Ecology, Sustainability and STEM

Programs and Curriculum

Mission: Fostering Stewardship for the Earth Through Education focused on the Science of

Ecology and the Practice of Sustainability

Community Ecology Education

In-School Programs

Educator & Parent/Family Workshops & Camps

Residential & Field Trip Programs

Publications

What is Ecology?

Biology

Botany

Climatology

ChemistryHydrology

Eco = oikos = house -logy = logos = study

By definition: the study of the interrelationships between the non-

Living (Abiotic) &living (Biotic) factors

of our Biosphere (house), the Earth!

The Simple Definition: The science of the relationships

between organisms and their environments.

Nature Appreciation

Virtual Learning

vs. Smorgasbord Environmental

Education

Investigative Field Ecology

Team Building

“Drag & Brag”

Ecology Education

Systems Thinking

What is S.T.E.M?

• Science• Technology• Engineering• Mathematics

What does STEM mean???

What is

STEM?

What is STEM to

you?

STEM is*:

• Funding

• Hands-on

• Project based

• Meeting kids where they’re at

• Inquiry

• Connections

• Integration

• Hiring opps

• Data analysis

• Good teaching

• Systemic approach to Ed

• Applicable to real life

• Modeling

• Government policy

• Engaging

* As defined by participants of the 2013 NEEEA Conference

S.T.E.M. is:

• Real World Application

• Authentic

• Field-based

• Hands-On

• Interdisciplinary/Connected

• 21st Century Work Force prep

• Task oriented

• Applicable

• Problem Based

• Wave of the Future

• Hands-On

• Interdisciplinary

• Construction based-product

• STEAM, eSTEM, etc.

• More than “Technology”(tech = anything in a system)

• Design Process = Engineering

S.T.E.M. Careers

• Agricultural & Food Science Technicians

• Computer & Tech Support

• Civil Engineers & Construction

• Biomedical Sciences

• Biochemists & Biophysicists

• Accountants & Auditors

• Soil and Plant Scientists

• Engineers – Environmental, Aerospace, Electrical, Chemical, etc.

• Software Developers

• Hydrologists

• City Planners

• Renewable Energy Designers

Ecology is STEM

Science Technology

Engineering

Math

Ecology Makes

Connections

Green Building Practices: The FBES Center

The Food For Thought Program

Organic & Sustainable Practices

Applying the Science of Ecology to the Practice of

Sustainability

Ecology is… the Science & Practice

of Making Connections… & Creating Community

Food Systems, Green Building, PermacultureEnergy

TransportationBusiness & Economics

Public PolicyEducation

Health & RecreationQuality of Life

Connecting Ecology ToYour Own Life Back at Home

Backyard Ecology

Outdoor Recreation

Food Systems

Consumer Choices

The ABCs of Ecology ®

CyclesBiotic

Abiotic Change

Environmental Literacy

“Reading the Landscape”

Deciphering Nature’s Storiesand Creating Eco-Citizens!

NAAEE Definition:

1) Developing inquiry, investigative, and analytical skills.

2) Acquiring knowledge of environmental process & human systems.

3) Developing skills for understanding & addressing environmental issues.

4) Practicing personal and civic responsibility for environmental decisions.

Three-Dimensions:

• Scientific and Engineering Practices

• Crosscutting Concepts

• Disciplinary Core Ideas

Next Generation Science Standards

A Framework for K-12 Science Education

1. Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)

2. Developing and using models

3. Planning and carrying out investigations

4. Analyzing and interpreting data

5. Using mathematics and computational thinking

6. Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering)

7. Engaging in argument from evidence

8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Ecosystem Study Provides an Integrative Approach

1. Life Science

2. Physical Science

3. Earth & Space Science

4. Engineering and Technology

Disciplinary Core IdeasEcology = the Science of Making

Connections

1. Patterns: looking at different species (leaves, stems)

2. Cause and Effect: Mechanism and Explanation: relationships between soil nutrients and diversity/productivity

3. Scale, Proportion, and Quantity: plot studies/sampling; compare/contrast factors & between ecosystems; productivity/diversity

4. Systems and System Models: Ecology is the study of the interrelationships between living and non-living things

5. Energy and Matter in Systems: Flows, Cycles and Conservation input=sunlight; output=biomass (photosynthesis)

6. Structure and Function:

7. Stability and Change of Systems: disturbance = change (the lawn gets mowed) Diversity near border, diversity near middle

Crosscutting ConceptsAddressed through Ecosystem Study

Ecosystem Pattern Survey

DiversityA measurement of the number of different species in an area*

ProductivityA measurement of how much an ecosystem is able to produce – what size are the plants and how dense are they? Nutrients

A measurement of how many nutrients and how much organic matter is in the soil/substrate. Darker soil means more nutrients.

DisturbanceA measurement of how often and how much an ecosystem is affected by abiotic change.

Ecosystem Pattern SurveyBEACH Disturbance Nutrients Diversity Productivity FOREST Disturbance Nutrients Diversity Productivity

High High

Medium High

Medium High

Medium Medium

Medium Low

Medium Low

Low Low

Ecosystem Pattern SurveyBEAC

HNutrient

sDiversit

yProducti

vityDisturba

nceFORE

STNutrient

sDiversit

yProducti

vityDisturba

nce

High High

Medium

High

Medium

High

Medium

Medium

Medium Low

Medium Low

Low Low

BEACH Disturbance Nutrients Diversity Productivity FOREST Disturbance Nutrients Diversity Productivity

High High

Medium High

Medium High

Medium Medium

Medium Low

Medium Low

Low Low

Ecosystem Pattern SurveyBEACH Disturbance Nutrients Diversity Productivity FOREST Disturbance Nutrients Diversity Productivity

High High

Medium High

Medium High

Medium Medium

Medium Low

Medium Low

Low Low

Ecosystem Pattern Survey

Mystery Ecosystem Disturbance Nutrients Diversity Productivity

High

Medium High

Medium

Medium Low

Low

Using ecosySTEMs to Solve & Design

Brainstorm need-based projects in schools, communities and/or neighborhoods.• Projects should be student designed, led, and implemented.

Refer to ecological principles to inform need and

design process.

Projects should reflect “smarter solutions” (David Orr)• Don’t cause other problems

• Solve for pattern/Security by design (Wendell Berry)

• Technically feasible

• Competitive

• Quickly deployable

• Resilient, redundant, repairable

Using ecosySTEMs to Solve & Design

1. E.g. David Orr’s Oberlin community projects

2. Etc…

Sustainable Forestry:

Ecosystem Study and Career Skill

Application

Ecologists In Training:Translating Ecological Concepts into

Practice

Ferry Beach Ecology SchoolGuiding Principles & Pedagogy:

(1) We do Ecology Education.

(2) We use the ABCs of Ecology® to teach ecology & sustainability.

(3) The ABCs of Ecology® allow us to Read the Landscape.

(4) The best way to Read the Landscape is through Hands-on Field Ecology.

(5) We use Narrative Education to teach Field Ecology.

(6) We are systems educators creating healthy & happy sustainable communities!

EEI: Educate, Entertain & Inspire!

Lesson Preview Skits

Student Weather Prediction Presentations

Fun Songs & Games that introduce

concepts

NarrativeEducation:

Using Storytelling Structures to teach Ecology

Concepts!

What is SELU?

Science and Ecology: Live &

Unplugged!Hands-on, Cumulative,

Sequential:Innovative Science Education!• Multi-year program collaborative with school districts

• Classroom programs, Assemblies, Schoolyard Ecology, Field Trips, plus…

• Culminating overnight program for older students

• Addressing science curriculum needs & “challenges” – ELP, ELP!!

• Sequential, place-based educational experiences

• Hands-on, experiential learning and field ecology

• District-wide Assessment program to measure SELU program efficacy

Who is SELU?More than 5000 students

throughout Maine…Creating Environmentally Literate School

Communities!

• ~5000 Kindergarten-8th grade students and teachers

• 15 Schools – Lebanon School, Hanson School, Hussey School, Knowlton School, Primary School, Hurd School, Poland Community School, Minot Consolidated School, Elm Street School, Lake Region Middle School, Bonny Eagle Middle School, Lincoln Middle School, Biddeford Primary, Intermediate and Middle Schools

• 6 School districts – SAD#60, RSU#16, Lake Region, Bonny Eagle, Portland, Biddeford

• 17 Communities – Lebanon, Berwick, North Berwick, Poland, Minot, Mechanic Falls, Portland, Sebago, Naples, Bridgton, Casco, Buxton, Steep Falls, Hollis, Limington, Standish, Sebago Lake

• Ferry Beach Ecology School – 6 Administrators, 16 staff naturalists

• And, of course, SELU, the harbor seal!

KindergartenFall: “Sensory Awareness” lesson at school siteSpring: “Beach Exploration” field trip to Ferry Beach

1st GradeFall: “Rocks & Soil” field trip to Ferry BeachSpring: “Food for Thought: Plants” lesson at school site

2nd GradeFall: “Salt Marsh” & “Air/Weather” field trip to Ferry BeachSpring: “Fresh Water Exploration” at school site

3rd GradeFall: “Watershed Mapping” program at school siteSpring: “Salt Marsh” field trip to Ferry Beach

4th GradeFall: “Geology & Disturbance” field trip to Ferry Beach Ecology SchoolWinter: “Winter Ecology” program at school site

5th GradeWinter: “Ecologists in Training ” program at school siteSpring: Residential program at Ferry Beach

A SELU Program Progression

How has SELU grown?2007-2009

*Lebanon Schools, SAD#60, K-5, Year 1 & 2 *Biddeford, 4th& 5th,Year 1 & 2

2009-2010Lebanon Schools, SAD#60, K-5, Year 3, Impact Study Year 1**Berwick and North Berwick Schools, SAD#60, K-5, Year 1

Biddeford, 4th& 5th, Year 3*RSU#16, 5th and 6th, Year 1

*Lincoln Middle School, 7th, Year 1 *Bonny Eagle Middle School, 8th, Year 12010-2011

Lebanon Schools, SAD#60, K-5, Year 4, Impact Study Year 2Berwick and North Berwick Schools, SAD#60, K-5, Year 2 , Impact Study Year 1

*Biddeford, 3rd-6th, Year 4 *RSU#16, K-6th, Year 2*Bonny Eagle Middle School, 6th-8th, Year 2 *Lincoln Middle School,

6th-8th, Year 22011-2013

Lebanon Schools, SAD#60, K-5, Year 5-6, Impact Study Year 3-4Berwick and North Berwick Schools, SAD#60, K-5, Year 3- 4, Impact Study Year 2

Biddeford, 3rd-7th, Year 5-6 (proposed 1st & 2nd) RSU#16, K-6th, Year 3-4Bonny Eagle Middle School, 6th-8th, Year 3-4 Lincoln Middle School, 6th-8th, Year

3-4Lake Region Middle School, 6th-8th, Year 1

THE FBES STAFF

Registered Nurse Onsite

FBES Naturalists = Our fabulous teaching staff!

AlexResidential

Program Director

DrewExecutive Director

MaureenAssociate Director

Meg Outreach Director

Johno

Food for Thought

Coordinator

KrystaLead Educator & Creative Director

Our Mission: Teaching Students to “Read the Landscape”

Through the Science of Ecology and the Practice of Sustainability

Environmental Literacy!

Helping Schools Meet State Curriculum Goals

Ecology is for Everyone!Ferry Beach Ecology School shares

EcoLogical Knowledge & Solutions for

Stronger Communities, Giving Us AllReasons to be Hopeful & Excited for

the Future!

Reading the Landscape

Reading the Forested Landscape

Tom Wessels

Reading the Landscapeof America

May Theilgaard Watts