Transcript Nature`s Notebook enhances educational goals such as

Nature's Notebook
A tool for educational programs: Teaching science literacy and climate change
LoriAnne Barnett
USA National Phenology Network, National Coordinating Office, Tucson, AZ
What is the USA-NPN?
The USA National Phenology Network
(USA-NPN, www.usanpn.org) is a
national science and monitoring initiative
focused on phenology as a tool to
understand how plants, animals and
landscapes respond to environmental
variation & climate change.
Nature’s Notebook enhances
educational goals such as:
•Increasing science (STEM), climate,
and phenological literacy
•Providing real world hands-on,
experiential, outdoor learning activities
•Modeling inquiry-based learning
Advantages of Nature’s Notebook for Education
Nature’s Notebook as a platform for education
•Experiential, real-world meaningful activity providing opportunities for career
exploration
•Training and education materials adaptable to fit many academic settings
•Meet students “where they are”
- flexible: students can access webpage anytime
- data entry using mobile apps (Android, iPhone)
- students can participate “from their backyard”
•Hypothesis-testing or pattern-based research projects available for curriculum design
•Leverage on data collected by other organizations
•Assistance with program development
Projects at work - Nature’s Notebook in the field
University of California, Santa Barbara
The USA-NPN Education Program
•Provides guidance for audiences in
middle school, high school, college, and
adult volunteers
•Engages volunteer groups in direct
science and climate education
•Shares curriculum materials designed
in-house and by groups using Nature’s
Notebook in the field
•Enhances science programming by
providing reflection activities and
opportunities to create hypotheses
Since 2007 Dr. Susan Mazer and PhD
candidate Brian Hagerty have been
cultivating phenological literacy. Nature’s
Notebook curricula for middle and high
school students, as well as undergraduates,
have been field tested and are available and
shared on the USA-NPN Education page.
 One-hour lectures
 Hands-on data
collection activities
 Three-hour training
workshops
 Discussion of peerreviewed literature
 Resources on
www.usanpn.org
Site-based Programs:
US FWS Wildlife Refuges, National Park
Service, & Cooperative Extension
Programs with sites, nature centers, and
volunteers are interested in phenology
monitoring as a teaching tool and visitor
engagement program. Nature’s Notebook
programs enhance demonstration gardens
and partnerships between local natural
resource groups.
Implementation
information for sitebased groups, volunteer
training materials and
collaboration ideas
available at
www.usanpn.org
a project of the USA-NPN
An off-the-shelf program appropriate
for scientists and non-scientists alike,
engaging citizen scientist volunteers
across the US in collecting
phenology observations on
plants and animals.
Curriculum & resources on
USA-NPN’s website:
Seeking partnerships with
educational, research, and
management organizations
• Implement vetted, standardized
protocols for collecting phenology
observations
• Use phenology data and information
• Develop inquiry-based education
Contact information
LoriAnne Barnett, Education Coord.
[email protected]
USA National Phenology Network