Using National Parks for Problem Based Learning (PBL) in an Introductory Earth System Science Course for Non-majors

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Using National Parks for Problem Based Learning
(PBL) in an Introductory Earth System Science
Course for Non-majors

• Mark Turski
• Plymouth State University
• Department of Environmental Science and Policy

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NPS in the classroom

• Hazardous Earth
• Yellowstone
• Supervolcano (2005, BBC)
• Analyze movie
• Your First REAL Job
• Several cities located within sphere of influence
• Managing the Earths Resources
• Yellowstone
• Save Our History Yellowstone History Channel
• National Geographic (Oct. 2006)
• Yellowstone Fires IGES/ESSEA/CTE
• Your Parks Budget

(NPS Martin, 1964)
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(No Transcript)
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ESS Analysis from theEarth System Science
Education Alliance (ESSEA)
A gt B gt E I read that more than eight weeks of
warm to hot, low humidity air masses drew
moisture out of grasses and trees in Yellowstone
National Park prior to the 1988 fires.
E gt H Ash from the fires fell into the ponds,
lakes, and streams.
(http//oz.plymouth.edu/essea/5-8/coutline/week3a
.html)
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Saving Your Parks Budget andYour JOB!

• Task Scenario

• You are to work in a group (1-4) and pick a
  National Park. Your group will prepare a
  15-minute PowerPoint telling the class about the
  park (it must be a park, not a forest or a
  historical site).
• Your goal is to convince the park service
  financial director (ME!) that your park should
  not see its budget cut because of all the
  benefits it provides on its current shoestring
  budget.

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• National Park Guide
• It is a NP for some reason
• Animal, Plants, Geology, recreational maybe all
  four
• You should tell what is important, dont just
  list 50 animals, plants or rocks.
• Highlight endangered species, unique geology .
  remember using some emotional appeal is
  important. This is the area where
• Historical significance if it has one, might be
  very important. DO NOT give me the history of the
  national park service.
• Check county/state for economic impacts
• Where would you stay, eat, and are their other
  things to do? Fun stuff like Clarks Trading Post
  with dancing bears.
• Maybe your park offers some unique lodging or
  dining Iguana cooked on hot lava in taro leaves
  with pineapple wine? The only hotel built of
  radioactive rocks.
• You should use Google Earth or maps to examine
  an area at least 40 miles outside the park. This
  is an hours drive.

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Is it involved in any controversy? Wher
e is it? Rt. 89 off Interstate 90 Where is it
on a map? -gt Cost to get in? Access
too much, too little, ADA? How do I get
there? Do I need to call? Do I need a
special permit? Will my prison radio ankle
bracelet work there? The brochure should be
the highlights you want it clean but with all
the important information.NOTE This is not a
complete list of what may be in your presentation
or brochure. You may have other things or you may
not have some things.
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Rubrics
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Issues?

• They tend to pick places one of the group members
  has visited
• Well known
• Close to home
• Park Homepages at NPS
• Top Picks
• Grand Canyon
• Acadia
• Great Smoky Mountains
• Not savvy on the socio-economics
• Loveland

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Nice picture but a little hard to read
It doesnt look like this on my computer!
NPS
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(No Transcript)
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(NPS Albert Bierstadt)
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• Favorite Assignment
• All want to visit their park
• All want to visit at least one of the others
  covered
• Most want to collect lava! I cant imagine where
  they got that dumb idea?

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The Turski kids thank the NPS for 50 years of
enjoyment.