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

Non-majors

Mark TurskiPlymouth State University

Department of Environmental Science and Policy

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 Earth’s

Resources– Yellowstone

• Save Our History: Yellowstone – History Channel

• National Geographic (Oct. 2006)

• Yellowstone Fires – IGES/ESSEA/CTE

– Your Park’s Budget(NPS – Martin, 1964)

ESS Analysis from theEarth System Science Education Alliance (ESSEA)

E > HAsh from the fires fell into the ponds, lakes, and streams.

A > B > EI 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.

(http://oz.plymouth.edu/~essea/5-8/coutline/week3a.html)

Saving Your Park’s 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.

National Park “Guide”

•It is a NP for some reason•Animal, Plants, Geology, recreational – maybe all four

•You should tell what is important, don’t 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 Clark’s 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.

• Is it involved in any controversy?

• Where is it? Rt. 89 off Interstate 90

• Where is it on a map? ->

• 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.

Rubrics

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

NPS

Nice picture but a little hard to read

It doesn’t look like this on my computer!

(NPS Albert Bierstadt)

• 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 can’t imagine where they got that dumb idea?

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