FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE FIELD:

DELIVERING REAL WORLD EXAMPLES VIA ANGEL AND RICH MEDIA.

PSU TLT SYMPOSIUM 2012EMBRACING CHANGE AND THE CULTURE OF TEACHING AND

LEARNING

Interactivity?

Aesthetics?

Rich Media.

Rob Cooley (Penn College) and Chris Legarski (PCT/Discovery Machine)

The challenge:

Students: digital natives… expect interactivity.

SCI100: Environmental Science 3 Credits (3 Lecture - 0 Lab)

General elective, no subject majors

Scientific investigation of interactions in the environment, including cause and effect relationships and a focus on the impact of humans on the natural environment. Biological, chemical, physical, and geological principles are integrated into the presentations. Topics covered promote a basic scientific understanding of environmental issues and informed decision making. Appropriate for students in all programs.

How do I get their attention? For F2F AND DL courses:

Provide a familiar online experience. Sound Graphical Design

Aesthetically pleasing, uniform site design

Rich media brings real world examples to the course

Measurable: connect with learning outcomes

Which do you prefer?

 

”A” “B”

Parts of a bike:• Derailleur• Spokes• Bottom Bracket• Seat• Sprocket• Chain• Skewer• Cable• Caliper

Rich Media, SCI 100 and ANGEL

User Interface: Content Folders

Uniform architecture throughout the site Visually pleasing, comfortable

Videos CooleyCam/Youtube: instantaneous content

How about field trips?

Field trips always stand out as unique experiences

In the Field: virtual field trips Engage through experience

Media provides multiple teaching options

Easily linked to learning outcomes: quizzes, standards

ITF: Misty Mountain Farm

Spotlight on local organic livestock production Sustainable agriculture Nutrient management (riparian buffers, animal waste) Superior product (consumer benefits)

Testable Learning Outcomes: Identify major scientific concepts underlying environmental issues.

Energy flow through trophic levels: “harnessing the power of the sun” Nutrient Management- poultry and nitrogen

Recognize cause and effect relationships in various environmental phenomena Riparian buffers: Mitigation of nutrient runoff

Describe activities which individuals can do to reduce environmental damage Buy local meat to reduce oil use associated with trucking and grain feeds

ITF: Coal

Spotlight on PA’s first energy boom: Coal Centralia, Coal mine tour Shamokin- Whaleback and associated geology Environmental Remediation: Passive mine drainage (AMD) system tour

Testable Learning Outcomes Describe the environmental roles of natural physical processes

Geology and origins of Central PA

Describe the formation and uses of natural resources (energy, soil, water and air). Formation of coal deposits

Cite examples of problems related to natural resources (availability, pollution, etc.) Acid mine drainage, mine fires, subsidence, landscape disturbance

Evaluate proposals to correct environmental disturbances, from a scientific perspective. AMD treatment

ITF: In the Garden

Spotlight on: Organic Home Gardening, Composting

Testable Learning Outcomes Identify major scientific concepts underlying environmental issues.

Nutrient recycling, detritivores, biodiversity, water and nutrient management

Recognize cause and effect relationships in various environmental phenomena Stormwater mitigation from impervious surfaces Waste reduction via composting

Describe activities which individuals can do to reduce environmental damage Organic gardening- health, biodiversity, improved diet and exercise Construct Rain Barrels and Compost Bins

ITF: Hydrology

Spotlight on: Stormwater and its management in PA September 2011 and flood impacts on Lycoming County

Testable Learning Outcomes Identify the major scientific concepts underlying selected

environmental issues Land use and effects on water quality and runoff during storm events

Recognize cause and effect relationships in various environmental phenomena. Land use and how it affects runoff rates, flood heights and frequencies.

Describe the environmental roles of natural physical processes Hydrologic cycle, watersheds, land use, conservation/mitigation

techniques

Students really like it!

I enjoyed this film. It was very interesting to me because it was on something local. It allows you to learn about something local but relate to what we are learning in the book. I think you should make more of these videos.

Its kind of neat, allows you to see these farms and so on and so forth without having to travel there myself. It’s even cooler when I can say I went on a field trip even though I was sick and stuck in bed.

You should continue to make more of these videos. It is a great, real-life example of sustainability at work. It is great that there is a farm like this so close to where I live. The video is a good application to environmental science at work.

(Highlights from 2011-2012 SCI100 student responses)

Conclusions:

Content to be tied to outcomes within ANGEL, assessed 2012-2013

More videos are coming… Bike commuting Potable and Waste Water Supply and Treatment Landfills/Waste Disposal Air Quality College major specific pieces?

Automotive Food/Hospitality

Questions?