Welcome Overview |
Site Layout |
Welcome to the website for the San Gabriel River Sea Turtle Monitoring and Observation Project. This website is designed as a learning resource for anyone interested in learning more about the citizen science observation project for recording data on the Pacific Green Sea Turtles found in the San Gabriel River.
The core focus of the website is to provide citizen scientists and applicants with training on the data collection methods, but there are also lessons on the biology of the sea turtles and the urban ecosystem they inhabit. Suggested Timeline You are welcome to explore the website on your own timeline, or focus on the lessons in Learn About... over the course of one week. We suggest taking one hour for each subject, to allow yourself time to explore and discuss the different topics. A brief outline of the website's pages and contents is located to the right, or you can use the "Next >" buttons at the bottom of each page in order to navigate through a suggested lesson plan. |
Home (VoiceThread and Message Board to communicate and collaborate)
Learn About... (Individual lessons) |
Technology, learning, and citizen science
The use of computers and technology allows scientists to conduct research with the help, support, and collaboration of the local community (McDonald, 2014). Websites, such as this one created using Weebly, allow learners to explore this citizen science project and become a part of a larger community discovering wild animals in urban environments.
You are welcome to explore on your own or with a group. Teachers are also invited to participate to involve their class in this citizen science project. Many instructors are seeking ways to engage and connect lessons with the world around them, and citizen science projects can use technology to offer that experience (Haines, 2011). This website strives to use research-based rationale to integrate a variety of engaging tools and provide an opportunity for anyone to learn about the exciting challenges of real life field observation in a unique urban environment. We hope that the learning opportunities throughout this website and the many citations and linked resources will help you to analyze and synthesize information from a variety of sources so that you can identify ways in which you can help urban wildlife - whether you are helping sea turtles or other local animals (ISTE, 2007).
The website is designed to be easily accessible on both traditional computers and mobile devices, so that the resources on this site can also be leveraged for "m-learning", enabling greater access in a variety of learning environments (Kolb, 2012). We encourage local learners to explore the mobile site while visiting the San Gabriel River in person.
As you explore this website, you will notice a variety of technology tools are utilized to make engaging lessons through animated videos and interactive presentations, including the final assessment, where you can test your skills as a citizen scientist. This video quiz connects you to our science program, tests your knowledge through an integrated assessment, and it helps our scientists learn more about accuracy in observation from citizen scientists (Lombardi, 2007). These tools are part of our effort to open a conversation about the sea turtles, their ecosystem, and the urban ocean. You are also welcome to connect with us through our message board or Facebook page, which make it easy for any student or citizen scientist to talk directly with the program leaders, ask questions, and to further engage in learning about our most recent citizen scientist observations and developing research (Nussbaum-Beach, 2012).
You are welcome to explore on your own or with a group. Teachers are also invited to participate to involve their class in this citizen science project. Many instructors are seeking ways to engage and connect lessons with the world around them, and citizen science projects can use technology to offer that experience (Haines, 2011). This website strives to use research-based rationale to integrate a variety of engaging tools and provide an opportunity for anyone to learn about the exciting challenges of real life field observation in a unique urban environment. We hope that the learning opportunities throughout this website and the many citations and linked resources will help you to analyze and synthesize information from a variety of sources so that you can identify ways in which you can help urban wildlife - whether you are helping sea turtles or other local animals (ISTE, 2007).
The website is designed to be easily accessible on both traditional computers and mobile devices, so that the resources on this site can also be leveraged for "m-learning", enabling greater access in a variety of learning environments (Kolb, 2012). We encourage local learners to explore the mobile site while visiting the San Gabriel River in person.
As you explore this website, you will notice a variety of technology tools are utilized to make engaging lessons through animated videos and interactive presentations, including the final assessment, where you can test your skills as a citizen scientist. This video quiz connects you to our science program, tests your knowledge through an integrated assessment, and it helps our scientists learn more about accuracy in observation from citizen scientists (Lombardi, 2007). These tools are part of our effort to open a conversation about the sea turtles, their ecosystem, and the urban ocean. You are also welcome to connect with us through our message board or Facebook page, which make it easy for any student or citizen scientist to talk directly with the program leaders, ask questions, and to further engage in learning about our most recent citizen scientist observations and developing research (Nussbaum-Beach, 2012).
Continue Exploring
Our next section for suggested reading covers Safety and Privacy for both you and our sea turtles.
References
Haines, R. (2011). Citizen science: Real-world applications for science students. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
site: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/7210
ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education). (2007). ISTE standards: Students. Retrieved August 10, 2014 from ISTE Web site:http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-S_PDF.pdf
Kolb, L. & Tonner, S. (2012) Mobile Phones and Mobile Learning. In McLeod, S., & Nussbaum-Beach, S. (Eds). What school leaders need to know about digital technologies and social media (pp. 159-172). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Lombardi, M. (2007). Authentic learning for the 21st century: An overview. (D. G. Oblinger, Ed.). Retrieved August 10, 2014 from Educause Learning Initiative Web site: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI3009.pdf
McDonald, K. (2014, March 24). 8 Great Reasons Why You Should Use Citizen Science in Your Class - SciStarter Blog. Retrieved August 09, 2014.
site: http://scistarter.com/blog/2014/03/benefits-citizen-science-classroom/#sthash.nHmMsNTD.dpbs
Nussbaum-Beach, S. (2012) Interlude: Social Media is Changing the Way We Live and Learn. In McLeod, S., & Nussbaum-Beach, S. (Eds). What school leaders need to know about digital technologies and social media (pp. 67-73). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
site: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/7210
ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education). (2007). ISTE standards: Students. Retrieved August 10, 2014 from ISTE Web site:http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-S_PDF.pdf
Kolb, L. & Tonner, S. (2012) Mobile Phones and Mobile Learning. In McLeod, S., & Nussbaum-Beach, S. (Eds). What school leaders need to know about digital technologies and social media (pp. 159-172). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Lombardi, M. (2007). Authentic learning for the 21st century: An overview. (D. G. Oblinger, Ed.). Retrieved August 10, 2014 from Educause Learning Initiative Web site: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI3009.pdf
McDonald, K. (2014, March 24). 8 Great Reasons Why You Should Use Citizen Science in Your Class - SciStarter Blog. Retrieved August 09, 2014.
site: http://scistarter.com/blog/2014/03/benefits-citizen-science-classroom/#sthash.nHmMsNTD.dpbs
Nussbaum-Beach, S. (2012) Interlude: Social Media is Changing the Way We Live and Learn. In McLeod, S., & Nussbaum-Beach, S. (Eds). What school leaders need to know about digital technologies and social media (pp. 67-73). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.