At CHESPAX we utilize a variety of tools to support digital learning. As a program that is embedded within the Department of Instruction, our staff receive training on a variety of digital tools that assist with instruction. We also incorporate a variety of tools that engage students with technology as a part of our field programs and classroom projects. Many of these digital tools have potential connections for Global Education.
CHESPAX Osprey Cam project: During the spring of each year, a pair of osprey returns to their nesting platform along Cocktown Creek, the site of our environmental education program. Students are able to view the ospreys over the course of the nesting season via the webcam and make connections to concepts such as food chains, predator-prey relationships, adaptations, and issues such as the impact of pesticides on birds of prey.
The project has an important global connection, as these birds migrate thousands of miles every year to South America where they spend the winter months. This shared responsibility for the well-being of these birds can be an interesting connecting point for conversations between our students and students in South America,
Maryland Biodiversity Project: This new eighth grade program involves students in the study of the loss of biodiversity across the globe, Students use trail cameras and "frogloggers" to record photographs and images of schoolyard and backyard wildlife to the Maryland Biodiversity Project, a state-wide effort to document living things in our home state. I'm hoping to share our findings with Indian colleagues and hope to have them share their own images and audio recordings with our students in a collaborative effort.
We have been using Voice Thread as a way to share results with our seventh grade classes and to foster dialogue between our classes about our field programs. I have found this to be a very useful digital tool to allow for asynchronous conversations between groups in different buildings. This allows classes that meet at different times to have their voices heard on the common interest of environmental concern. I think that this tool has great potential for Global Education to overcome the challenge of having classes converse from different time zones.
An Eye in the Sky: A brand new grant funded project utilizes two conservation drones that are being used to map out the distribution of underwater grasses in our local creek. We are partnering with a team of high school students that are part of the Calvert Flyers drone club. The students fly the drones over a study site to collect the images, which are then being used by middle school students that are collecting underwater grass data from the creek. The imagery provides a perspective that we could not obtain without the help of these students. The project was inspired by a TED talk on Conservation Drones that are being used in Borneo to protect and study Orangutan populations.
Sea Turtle Distance Learning project: Each spring, our third grade classes participate in a distance learning program with the Sea Turtle Conservancy. This organization is a research and education oriented group that is based in Florida, Scientists from the organization provide an age appropriate presentation to the students and each school has an opportunity to ask questions about the turtles. The project helps to not only teach the students about sea turtles, but gives them a chance to connect with students and teachers from other schools in our district that are studying the same topics. I am hopeful that we can use this same technology to link to other classrooms and resources around the globe.
Scribble Maps: Many of our student projects involve students in creating maps to communicate information about their environmental projects. One program that allows maps that can be easily modified to share information is Scribble Maps. Students can add data or simply draw information onto their maps to communicate their findings.
Google Earth: Has become an indispensable tool for our environmental education program. We are able to incorporate a variety of data onto Google Earth, compare historic images to observe change over time, and create activities that are engaging to our students for classroom use.
CHESPAX Osprey Cam project: During the spring of each year, a pair of osprey returns to their nesting platform along Cocktown Creek, the site of our environmental education program. Students are able to view the ospreys over the course of the nesting season via the webcam and make connections to concepts such as food chains, predator-prey relationships, adaptations, and issues such as the impact of pesticides on birds of prey.
The project has an important global connection, as these birds migrate thousands of miles every year to South America where they spend the winter months. This shared responsibility for the well-being of these birds can be an interesting connecting point for conversations between our students and students in South America,
Maryland Biodiversity Project: This new eighth grade program involves students in the study of the loss of biodiversity across the globe, Students use trail cameras and "frogloggers" to record photographs and images of schoolyard and backyard wildlife to the Maryland Biodiversity Project, a state-wide effort to document living things in our home state. I'm hoping to share our findings with Indian colleagues and hope to have them share their own images and audio recordings with our students in a collaborative effort.
We have been using Voice Thread as a way to share results with our seventh grade classes and to foster dialogue between our classes about our field programs. I have found this to be a very useful digital tool to allow for asynchronous conversations between groups in different buildings. This allows classes that meet at different times to have their voices heard on the common interest of environmental concern. I think that this tool has great potential for Global Education to overcome the challenge of having classes converse from different time zones.
An Eye in the Sky: A brand new grant funded project utilizes two conservation drones that are being used to map out the distribution of underwater grasses in our local creek. We are partnering with a team of high school students that are part of the Calvert Flyers drone club. The students fly the drones over a study site to collect the images, which are then being used by middle school students that are collecting underwater grass data from the creek. The imagery provides a perspective that we could not obtain without the help of these students. The project was inspired by a TED talk on Conservation Drones that are being used in Borneo to protect and study Orangutan populations.
Sea Turtle Distance Learning project: Each spring, our third grade classes participate in a distance learning program with the Sea Turtle Conservancy. This organization is a research and education oriented group that is based in Florida, Scientists from the organization provide an age appropriate presentation to the students and each school has an opportunity to ask questions about the turtles. The project helps to not only teach the students about sea turtles, but gives them a chance to connect with students and teachers from other schools in our district that are studying the same topics. I am hopeful that we can use this same technology to link to other classrooms and resources around the globe.
Scribble Maps: Many of our student projects involve students in creating maps to communicate information about their environmental projects. One program that allows maps that can be easily modified to share information is Scribble Maps. Students can add data or simply draw information onto their maps to communicate their findings.
Google Earth: Has become an indispensable tool for our environmental education program. We are able to incorporate a variety of data onto Google Earth, compare historic images to observe change over time, and create activities that are engaging to our students for classroom use.