Abstract
A student-scientist partnership outreach program was funded by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) to involve students and teachers in scientific investigations pertinent to global change research occurring within the boreal region of Canada. Boreal Forest Watch was planned, designed and piloted by an interdisciplinary group of education and science professionals from the University of New Hampshire, the Prince Albert National Park, and several schools in central Saskatchewan, Canada. A two goal approach was adopted to 1) ensure the educational significance of the program and 2) introduce scientifically valid methods for collection of research data pertinent to global change scientists. Professional educators and school administrators from Saskatchewan were recruited to assist in project planning to ensure that the proposed activities fit within the existing curriculum framework. This process was essential for successful adoption of the program by participating teachers. The process and approach of initiating Boreal Forest Watch are presented in this paper. This program became fully functional in September, 1996 with the training of several participating teachers. Perspectives of the program and its future are provided by members of the design team. Boreal Forest Watch is a unique opportunity for both Canadian students and their teachers to explore their natural environment, learn scientific methods and principles, and contribute data to the global change research community.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Canadian Forest Service. (1994). A Forest for All. Northern Forestry Centre Publications, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. see: URL: http://www.nofc.forestry.ca/.
Canadian Forest Service. (1997). Canadian Forest Service World Wide Web site: URL: http://www.nofc.forestry.ca/.
Canadian Parks Service. (1992). EduKit, 2nd Ed. Prince Albert National Park, Waskesiu Lake, SK, Canada.
GLOBE. (1997). Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment World Wide Web site: URL: http://www.globe.gov/.
Landgreb, D. (1997). MultiSpec World Wide Web site: URL: http://dynamo.ecn.purdue.edu/~biehl/MultiSpec/.
Lawless, J. G. and Coppola, R. (1996). Global learning and observations to benefit the environment (GLOBE): an international environmental science research and science education program. Proceedings Eco-Informa '96: Global Networks for Environmental Information, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, 4–7 November, 11: 503–508.
National Research Council. (1996). National Science Education Standards, National Academy Press, Washington, DC. p.262.
Natural Resources Canada. (1996). Focus On Forests Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Forestry Association, Prince Albert, SK, Canada. p.182.
Prince Albert Model Forest Association (PAMFA). (1995). Education Resource Modules for Grade 7 Social Studies and Science. Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. p. 102.
Prince Albert Model Forest Association (PAMFA). (1997). Prince Albert Model Forest Association World Wide Web site: URL:http://ncr157.ncr.forestry.ca/Canada/PAMF/PAMF.HTML.
Rock, B. N. and Lauten, G. N. (1996). K-12th grade students as active contributors to research investigations. Journal of Science Education and Technology 5: 255–266.
Saskatchewan Education. (1982). Directions. Curriculum and Instruction Branch. Regina, SK, Canada. see: URL: http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/.
Saskatchewan Education. (1987). Understanding the Common Essential Learnings. Curriculum and Instruction Branch. Regina, SK, Canada. see: URL: http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/.
Saskatchewan Education. (1991). Science 10: A Curriculum Guide for the Secondary Level. Curriculum and Instruction Branch. Regina, SK, Canada. see: URL: http://www.sasked.gov.-sk.ca/docs/xsci/xsci.html.
Saskatchewan Education. (1992a). Science: A Curriculum Guide for the Secondary Level, Biology 20/30. Curriculum and Instruction Branch. Regina, SK, Canada. see: URL: http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/biology/.
Saskatchewan Education. (1992b). Science: A Curriculum Guide for the Secondary Level, Physics 20/30; Chemistry 20/30. Curriculum and Instruction Branch. Regina, SK, Canada. see: URL: http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/physics/physics.html.
Sellers, P. J., Hall, F., Margolis, H., Kelly, B., Baldocchi, D., den Hartog, G., Cihlar, J., Ryan, M. G., Goodison, B., Crill, P., Ranson, K. J., Lettenmaier, D., and Wickland, D. E. (1995). The boreal ecosystem-atmosphere study (BOREAS): an overview and early results from the 1994 field year. Bull. Am. Met. Soc. 76: 1549–1577.
Spencer, S. L. and Rock, B. N. (1996). Boreal Forest Watch, an educational outreach program: experiential learning through participation in a real data-collection effort. Proceedings Eco-Informa '96: Global Networks for Environmental Information, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, 4–7 November, 11: 509–514.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Spencer, S., Huczek, G. & Muir, B. Developing a Student-Scientist Partnership: Boreal Forest Watch . Journal of Science Education and Technology 7, 31–43 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022532131864
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022532131864