COSEE Teachable Moment Workshop at Old Woman Creek
Huron, Ohio — August 6 – 7, 2007
Collecting sediment samples...
COSEE Great Lakes hosted a Teachable Moment workshop at Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve in Huron, Ohio, on August 6 and 7, 2007. This two-day workshop provided an up-close look at estuaries and their relationship with the Lake Erie ecosystem. Two scientists, PhD. candidate Alexandra Hakala and Dr. David Klarer, joined 13 educators in an effort to provide teachers with current research information on a wetland’s ability to filter pesticides. They also discussed methods to best convey information from the lab to the classroom.
Processing the samples...
On day one, participants assisted in the field collection and lab processing of samples. Day two included discussion on integrating this and other real-time data into the curriculum. An unexpected outcome of the workshop was the start up of a “bring a researcher to your classroom” project where those in Ale Hakala’s research group will make themselves available to students in workshop attendees’ classrooms to discuss current research projects when they tie in with the curriculum. This student-researcher interaction will provide a direct link from the classroom to the lab and may spark student’s interest in science in a way book learning couldn’t. For more information on this workshop or other COSEE events visit coseegreatlakes.net or contact Marti Martz at (814) 217-9015 or via e-mail at mam60@psu.edu.
