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Full-Text Articles in Education
How Can Zoo Educators Help Individuals In A Community Develop A Deeper Connection To Wildlife, Conservation And The Environment Through Specific Education Programming?, Allison Budnick
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Research has shown that as early as the 1960s, zoos have begun to shift their primary focus from a recreational standpoint to one that is deeply rooted in education, conservation and environmental awareness. Education programming has become an avenue for zoo visitors to gain reliable information about animals, develop awareness about critical species, and understand the human impact on the environment and how our actions can effect change. The curriculum designed for this project enables zoo educators to present a meaningful educational experience in a zoo setting. Each program focuses on a different animal species, allowing for diversity within the …
A Better Understanding Through The Use Of The Nature Journal, Carol L. Anderson
A Better Understanding Through The Use Of The Nature Journal, Carol L. Anderson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
This paper examines the positive impact that spending time in the natural world has on students. In reviewing the history of environmental education in the United States, the importance of nature on human development, and the impact that journaling and reflective thought processes have in education, this capstone sought to expand upon the research and encourage using nature journals to affect children’s perceptions of the natural world and their place within it. While journaling can facilitate communication, self-expression and personal development, it is also a way to enhance learning by connecting background knowledge to new information, analyzing and synthesizing ideas …
A Culturally Relevant Earth Science Curriculum: Engaging Students In Socioscientific Issues Through Socratic Seminars, Colin Matthew Gettle
A Culturally Relevant Earth Science Curriculum: Engaging Students In Socioscientific Issues Through Socratic Seminars, Colin Matthew Gettle
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question addressed in this capstone project is: How can Socratic seminars be used as a culturally relevant tool to increase student engagement and science literacy? This capstone project is based largely off the work of Gloria Ladson-Billings, who promoted the critical idea of culturally responsive teaching in all classrooms to promote equity and social engagement. Through the lens of culturally responsive pedagogy, this project aims to address the large engagement gaps that exist in many diverse academic settings. Specifically, the project is a set of three 8th grade Earth science units. Each unit addresses Minnesota State Eighth Grade …
The Reduction Of Stormwater Runoff Pollution Through Community Service Efforts, Dana Damm
The Reduction Of Stormwater Runoff Pollution Through Community Service Efforts, Dana Damm
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Damm, D. The Reduction of Stormwater Runoff Pollution Through Community Service Efforts (2019) This capstone project creates a curriculum unit for 8th grade Earth Science students. It utilizes traditional instructional techniques to convey standards-based information and then it elaborates in more detail using hands-on laboratory experiences, modeling and community service work. The goal of this project is to educate students about the water cycle, watersheds, city utilities and the value of community service. Students will work with local residents to adopt storm drains and maintain them in order to prevent runoff pollution from entering the watershed. By encouraging students to …
Integrating Augmented Reality Into Place Based Native Tree Identification, Chase Evertz
Integrating Augmented Reality Into Place Based Native Tree Identification, Chase Evertz
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Research has shown that the number of students using cellphones for school is increasing and there are many positive reasons to use apps and other technology to help students in their learning. The needs of the 21st century students are changing and educators need to meet those needs by planning engaging lessons with more technology to better prepare students for life after high school. This project will help address the question, does the use of cell phones outdoors by 12th grade experiential environmental education students have a positive effect on the learning process? This curriculum guide is designed for a …
Integration Of Social Studies And/Or Science Within Your Literacy Workshop Model: A Professional Development Presentation, Karry Helgestad
Integration Of Social Studies And/Or Science Within Your Literacy Workshop Model: A Professional Development Presentation, Karry Helgestad
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
The research question examined for this capstone was “How does the integration of science and/or social studies standards with language arts standards impact the reading comprehension of upper elementary students? Topics explored in the literature review were different models of integration, such as CORI - Concept of Oriented Reading Instruction; Science IDEAs - In-Depth Expanded Application of Science; Dr. Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences; and project-based learning. Additional literature was examined on how background knowledge and vocabulary impact reading comprehension. A teacher professional development workshop was developed as the project to educate teachers about the benefits of integrated instruction. …
Increasing The Participation And Success Of Struggling Students In High School Physics Courses, Ian O'Neill
Increasing The Participation And Success Of Struggling Students In High School Physics Courses, Ian O'Neill
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
O’Neill, I. Increasing the Participation and Success of Struggling Students in High School Physics Courses (2019) Physics is the most mathematically complex science course offered in the high school setting. Due to the higher level of mathematical proficiency needed to succeed in physics, it is common for school districts to place it as the final science course offered to high school students. Minnesota only requires students to take three years of science in order to graduate and has no specific requirement for physics. This has led to low enrollment and the negative stigma that physics is an unnecessary and difficult …
Strategies To Enhance The Positive Effects Of Bilingualism, Danielle Mcmillan
Strategies To Enhance The Positive Effects Of Bilingualism, Danielle Mcmillan
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Supporting bilingual students is critical not only for the bilingual students but also for monolingual students. Prominent bilingualism in the classroom can translate to higher test scores, increased engagement, and long-term impacts on brain agility. This capstone project seeks to answer the question: What strategies are available to educators to enhance the positive effects of bilingualism in their students? The final result of this project is a website which includes a series of strategies focused on the four domains of language which seeks to meet the educational needs of both bilingual and mainstream students. The website includes a description of …
What A Waste! A Secondary Environmental Science Unit On Waste Reduction And Management, Megan Wagner
What A Waste! A Secondary Environmental Science Unit On Waste Reduction And Management, Megan Wagner
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
This writing serves as an introductory unit to waste management and reduction to be used in a high school urban environmental education classroom. The research question for this capstone was, does teaching environmental science through waste reduction and management in an urban classroom affect student engagement and connection? The research outlined in this paper explores and examines the concept of an urban classroom environment, the importance of teaching environmental science, and tools and materials to incorporate a unit on waste into an environmental science course. The paper goes on to explain the importance of educating students about the waste crisis …
How Place-Based Education Increases Student Interpretation Of Minnesota's Landscape And Geologic Processes, Jessica Strom
How Place-Based Education Increases Student Interpretation Of Minnesota's Landscape And Geologic Processes, Jessica Strom
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Gaining perspective on one’s surroundings comes in many ways. One method to connect students to their local area and help them develop a sense of place is through place-based education. Making scientific-based observations and interpretations of a physical landscape and also interviewing community members can help students build an understanding of an area’s past and can help students make better educated decisions about how to take care of an area in the future. This capstone paper and curriculum unit project addressed the topic of how place-based education increases student interpretation of Minnesota's landscape and geologic processes. Place-based education is a …
Teaching Chemistry Through An Environmental Science Lens And The Effect Of Student Understanding And Motivation In Learning High School Science, Sara Peterson
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Research has shown that on average, student motivation for secondary sciences, especially physical sciences, decreases from ages nine to seventeen due to a perceived lack of connection to content. The curriculum designed for this project focuses on using socio-scientific issues (SSI) to relate an introductory knowledge of chemistry to environmental examples. Using SSI and real world, environmental examples has been shown to increase student understanding and interest in secondary science content. The project has combined the two to create a curriculum which lends to both socio-scientific issues and environmental examples to increase scientific relevancy in students. The curriculum will be …
Learning Science In A Second Language, Alisha Tomsen
Learning Science In A Second Language, Alisha Tomsen
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
This project addresses the question, how to enrich and expand the vocabulary of kindergarteners in a Spanish immersion program through science lessons and science-focused learning objectives. The project was born from the author’s experience as a language-immersion primary teacher and her desire to create a space for more science in the classroom while also facilitating target language growth. Literature concerning second language acquisition, language immersion education, inquiry-based learning, national science standards, and connections between science and literacy were researched and consulted to create this project. A five-part professional development was created, directed towards primary-level immersion educators that focuses on supporting …
Roots And S.T.E.M.: A Greenhouse Science Curriculum, Jaclyne Jandro
Roots And S.T.E.M.: A Greenhouse Science Curriculum, Jaclyne Jandro
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
This project addressed the question, how do I design a winter greenhouse curriculum for our high-school aged after-school internship program at Urban Roots that will be highly engaging, increase scientific understanding, and make our interns better farmers? With an exploration into the state of science education in the U.S., available greenhouse curriculum, the benefits of agricultural education, and greenhouse growing practices, and major influences from Larson, Bellevue, and Coleman, a sixteen week greenhouse and science curriculum for high-school aged youth was created. Each week consists of a three-hour, hands-on, inquiry-based lesson with focus on the scientific method and creating a …
Authentic Science Curriculum In An Alternative High School Setting, Julia Brunner
Authentic Science Curriculum In An Alternative High School Setting, Julia Brunner
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Research has shown that when students are exposed to authentic inquiry-based curriculum they are more motivated and engaged in the content they are learning. The curriculum designed for this project utilizes Carol Ann Tomlinson and Jay McTighe’s theory of the need to integrate differentiation and the curriculum model of Understanding by Design. Students in Alternative Learning Programs (AEPs), often have negative experiences within education. Apathy and learning gaps are huge obstacles that need to be overcome in this setting. The project involved creating a curriculum that allowed for individualized learning and more student autonomy in their learning. Using the MN …
Nature Journal Activity Guide - Grades 3-5, Jennifer Ann Hengel
Nature Journal Activity Guide - Grades 3-5, Jennifer Ann Hengel
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
If we want adults that are stewards for the environment, we need to include nature in education when they are younger so they can understand and appreciate the natural world. This need prompted the question, How do we utilize nature journals for school-age children to increase students’ understanding and appreciation of the natural world? Prior research has pointed to the benefits of teaching nature to youth, as well as the benefits of journaling in education. Nature journaling covers both sides of this equation, and helps foster sense of place and experiential learning. This capstone project was an activity guide similar …
Using Novels In The Science Classroom To Increase Literacy In Middle School Students, Elizabeth Mae Das
Using Novels In The Science Classroom To Increase Literacy In Middle School Students, Elizabeth Mae Das
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Literacy in science is an important aspect of a student’s education. However, it is often not explicitly taught by teachers. The material chosen for reading is typically from a textbook, boring, and difficult to comprehend for most students due to the large number of low occurrence vocabulary words and sentence complexity. This is especially true of ELL students who are still developing their general vocabulary. This project was chosen after working in a school with a student population of over 90% ELL students who are mostly below grade level in reading. The research question for this project was how does …
Substituting Traditional Homework With Outdoor Experiences, David Czepa
Substituting Traditional Homework With Outdoor Experiences, David Czepa
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
Research has expressed that traditional homework has more negative effects associated with it than positive ones. Scholars have also concluded that frequent exposure to the outdoors greatly helps in the social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and educational development of students of all ages, especially younger ones. This project takes time to answer the question: How can creating and substituting outdoor experiences for traditional homework increase the time students choose to spend outside when not in school? The curriculum designed for this project focuses on utilizing academic instruction during school hours to expose and educate children on the wonders and sophistication of …
Inquiry-Based Learning Science Curriculum For Kindergarteners, Meghan Brady
Inquiry-Based Learning Science Curriculum For Kindergarteners, Meghan Brady
School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects
This project answers the question: How can teachers utilize inquiry-based learning while assessing success in kindergarten science education? The focus of this project was to explore inquiry to aide students in developing a deep understanding of science standards. Many different research studies were reviewed to explore the importance of science education in early elementary school. The research focuses on the areas of Next Generation Science Standards, inquiry-based learnings, and assessments. The project is a two-week unit designed to instruct kindergarten students in the Next Generation Science Standards of weather, engineering, and Earth systems. The major learnings, limitations, and benefits to …