Ecology of the Great Lakes Teacher Workshop Aboard the U.S. EPA’s R/V Lake Guardian ~ July 7-13, 2002 ~ Joan Chadde, Education Program Coordinator Western U.P. Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education Michigan Technological University Course Coordinator Lead Faculty MTU Graduate Course Requirements Course References Benefits to Great Lakes Conservation & Outreach Course Description Sponsored by a Michigan Tech Partnership: Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics & Env. Education KITES Project (NSF) Isle Royale Institute Educators’ Science and Mathematics Institute Series Joan Chadde, Education Program Coordinator (far right) Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education Michigan Technological University Tel: Dr. Sarah Green, Associate Professor (left photo) Dept. of Chemistry Michigan Technological University In an exciting week aboard the U. S. EPA’s research vessel (R/V) Lake Guardian, participants had the opportunity to live and work in the ship’s labs beside scientists doing hands-on data collection and analysis. The course covered a variety of topics: Shifting Shores and Eroding Beaches Light and Temperature Profiles Phyto/Zooplankton Sampling & ID Micrometeorological Measurements of Air Toxins Aquatic Exotic Nuisance Species Benthic Communities of Nearshore, Slope and Profundal Zones Geology of the Great Lakes Bennett, Thomas R Shoreline Processes of the Great Lakes. Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality (Land & Water Management Technical Report 95-1) Great Lakes Aquarium Lake Effects: Lake Superior Curriculum Guide for Grades K-8. Lake Superior Center, Duluth, MN. LaBerge, Gene L Geology of the Lake Superior Region. Geoscience Press. Tuscon, AZ Monson, Bruce A A Primer on Limnology 2nd Edition. (Public Report Series #6). University of Minnesota Extension Service, Room 173 McNeal Hall, 1985 BufordAve., St. Paul, MN Shaw, Byron, Christine Mechenich and Lowell Klessig Understanding Lake Data. University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Government of Canada The Great Lakes: An Environmental Atlas and Resource Book (provided to course participants) The goal of the one-week teacher education course aboard the R/V Lake Guardian was to enhance the ability and motivation of K-12 teachers to teach about the physical, chemical, biological, meteoro- logical, and geological components of Lake Superior and Great Lakes ecosystems, and to integrate Great Lakes topics into their math, science, social studies and technology classrooms. One-Week Teaching Unit – Following their one-week course aboard the Lake Guardian, teachers design a teaching unit or program appropriate for their teaching level on a topic of interest related to their experience, and that meets the guidelines of the Michigan or national content standards. Manuscript for Publication – During Fall semester, participants were required to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching unit, and submit a summary of their experience in a manuscript following the publication guidelines for the National Science Teachers Association for Science and Children (elementary), Science Scope (middle school), or The Science Teacher (secondary), Green Teacher, or the journal of the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse (enc.org/focus/write). PROGRAM OUTCOMES  Statewide publicity for EPA’s R/V Lake Guardian and Great Lakes research in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.  News articles published in six newspapers throughout Michigan: Houghton Daily Mining Gazette (July 10, 2002), Flint Journal (August 2002), Sault Ste. Marie Evening News (August 23, 2002), Marquette Mining Journal (August 11, 2002), Escanaba Daily Press (August 12, 2002), Grand Rapids Press (August 8, 2002) and Michigan Tech Alumnus (December 2002) mailed to thousands of MTU alumni.  Open house conducted aboard Lake Guardian attracted more than 100 local residents to tour the research vessel.  Development of new K-12 curriculum units: Seven Days Aboard a Research Vessel – a children’s story that describes how research is conducted on the Great Lakes; Mercury’s Toxic Tale* Michigan’s Aquatic Exotic Species National Parks & Lake Superior Public Beaches & Water Quality* Symmetry of Diatoms* Chemistry of Soils An Investigation of Algal Indicator Species* *These curriculum units are posted to the Western U.P. Center’s website at: Dr. Matt Julius, Assistant Professor (right photo) Dept. of Biological Sciences St. Cloud State University Michigan Tech University’s new research vessel Agassiz will be used for the next Ecology of the Great Lakes teacher workshop planned for July 13-18, Future Courses Ecology of the Great Lakes