
Dr. Michael Brody,
Creek Farm Education Associates
and Dr. Alexsander
Bogolyubov, Association
Ecosystem have collaborated to establish a telecommunication ecology education program
for middle and secondary level science teachers and students in the USA, Russia and other
countries. This course is for teachers who would like their students to share ecological
and cultural information and work together to help create a better environment. The
Ecological Field Studies Program is a continuous, asynchronous, computer-based
telecommunications link between teachers and students focusing on ecological studies
throughout the world.
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The program is based on 40 environmental study
lessons illustrated with videos of students and teachers conducting research in the
environment surrounding The Center for Field Studies , northeast of Moscow, Russia. The videos
have complimentary supporting teacher background texts in both English and Russian
language. Among the lessons are a wide variety of activities in nature which focus on
aquatic ecology, botany, forest ecology, soil studies, landscape analysis, ornithology and
anthropogenic effects on nature.
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The ecological field studies program promotes a
wide variety of outcomes which correspond to established educational standards in many
countries. The ecological field study activities address content standards in the areas of
earth science, life science, biology, ecology and the nature of science. Intellectual
skill development includes questioning, data collection, analysis and drawing conclusions.
Affective outcomes include an appreciation for the processes of science, the use of
technology in basic scientific endeavors and a greater value of natural, scientific and
cultural systems.
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The ecological field studies program promotes understanding of ecosystems and the
protection of the environment through the training of teachers in specific field study
techniques, the education of young people in ecology concepts and issues and the sharing
of ecological study results between countries. The primary goal of this work is connecting
students and teachers, addressing important environmental issues and promoting
environmental interest, knowledge and values.
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