SGU/TRESTE REPORTSGU/TRESTE REPORT

2006-2007 ACADEMIC YEAR2006-2007 ACADEMIC YEAR

Fall 2006--Prairie EcologyFall 2006--Prairie Ecology

Prairie ecology Prairie ecology centered around centered around prairie dog issueprairie dog issue

Student debate initially Student debate initially from personal from personal experience and experience and emotionemotion

SD Prairie DogsSD Prairie Dogs

AP News storyAP News story Word fileWord file

Prairie dog lesson planPrairie dog lesson plan Word fileWord file

Soil ecology labSoil ecology lab Word fileWord file

Soil moisture labSoil moisture lab Word fileWord file

PROCESSPROCESS

Students brainstormed what information Students brainstormed what information they would need to know to make an they would need to know to make an informed decision on the prairie dog informed decision on the prairie dog problem.problem.

Concept map created matched to instructor Concept map created matched to instructor identified essential contentidentified essential content

PRAIRIEANIMALSPLANTSWATERCLIMATEPEOPLEFIRESOIL/LANDPOLLUTIONPOLITICS

Incorporation of Material from Incorporation of Material from 2006 TRESTE Workshop2006 TRESTE Workshop

Climate observations power pointClimate observations power point Paleoclimate dataPaleoclimate data Climate trendsClimate trends

Month precipitation totals for SDMonth precipitation totals for SD Soil temperature labSoil temperature lab

Measurement of surface temperatures with Measurement of surface temperatures with infrared “gun”infrared “gun”

RELATED STUDENT RELATED STUDENT PROJECTSPROJECTS

Medicinal plants surveyMedicinal plants survey Microclimate in prairie dog townsMicroclimate in prairie dog towns Water flow in Little White RiverWater flow in Little White River

Water qualityWater quality ChemicalChemical Aqautic lifeAqautic life

Soil chemicals current and abandoned Soil chemicals current and abandoned prairie dog townsprairie dog towns

MARS ROVERS--SPRING 2007MARS ROVERS--SPRING 2007

Wanted:Mechanic familiar with electric cars to service and winterizeThe Rover Spirit and the Rover Opportunity currently located on the planet Mars. Prefer a team of individuals who will train in the South Dakota Badlands for this mission. Will need a team member capable of flying the spacecraft. Please apply at JPL in Pasadena, California.

STUDENT IDENTIFIED STUDENT IDENTIFIED CONTENTCONTENT

Mars geology and topographyMars geology and topography ElectricityElectricity Alternative energy sourcesAlternative energy sources RoboticsRobotics Solar system bodiesSolar system bodies Survival in spaceSurvival in space Flight and rocketsFlight and rockets

TEACHER-IDENTIFIED TEACHER-IDENTIFIED CONTENTCONTENT

KinematicsKinematics DynamicsDynamics Weather principlesWeather principles

Heat energyHeat energy Basic opticsBasic optics Principles of flightPrinciples of flight Satellite imagerySatellite imagery

Surface featuresSurface features

CONCEPTS TAUGHTCONCEPTS TAUGHT

Mars place in spaceMars place in space Solar system relativesSolar system relatives Physics of orbitsPhysics of orbits

Satellite imagery Mars surface featuresSatellite imagery Mars surface features TopographyTopography GeologyGeology Problem: evidence of water on MarsProblem: evidence of water on Mars Problem: landing site on MarsProblem: landing site on Mars

CONCEPTS TAUGHT(Cont.)CONCEPTS TAUGHT(Cont.)

Force and motionForce and motion CollisionsCollisions Impact cratersImpact craters Problem: landing safely on Mars (egg drop)Problem: landing safely on Mars (egg drop)

EnergyEnergy P.E. and K.E.P.E. and K.E. Energy transformationEnergy transformation Alternative energy sourcesAlternative energy sources

SolarSolar WindWind

CONCEPTS TAUGHT (Cont.)CONCEPTS TAUGHT (Cont.)

Heat energyHeat energy Basic elements of weatherBasic elements of weather

RoboticsRobotics Simple machinesSimple machines Problem: a model rover made with K’NexProblem: a model rover made with K’Nex

FlightFlight Newton’s Laws of MotionNewton’s Laws of Motion KitesKites RocketsRockets

Student projectsStudent projects

Rover looking for Rover looking for magnetic materialsmagnetic materials

MISSION REPORTMISSION REPORT

In lieu of final exam, In lieu of final exam, students prepared a students prepared a mission report mission report summarizing what was summarizing what was accomplished and accomplished and what ;further things what ;further things need to be need to be investigated.investigated.

What Students LikeWhat Students Like

Some choice in how the curriculum is Some choice in how the curriculum is chosenchosen

Projects to demonstrate learning instead of Projects to demonstrate learning instead of exams over lecture and textbook materialexams over lecture and textbook material

Opportunity to solve authentic problemsOpportunity to solve authentic problems Collaborative workCollaborative work

Curricular issuesCurricular issues

Designing a problem that will incorporate Designing a problem that will incorporate essential conceptsessential concepts

Designing valid authentic assessmentsDesigning valid authentic assessments Group members who are absent--how to Group members who are absent--how to

help them learn the contenthelp them learn the content

FINAL COMMENTFINAL COMMENT

It’s more work to plan and set upIt’s more work to plan and set up Love the high level of student engagementLove the high level of student engagement Ability to apply science concepts in real-life Ability to apply science concepts in real-life

situationssituations