Wildlife Prairie State Park: Experience Local Ecology

Michelle R. Edgcomb

C&I 578

Fall 2009

More foreign than a rainforest?

Potential of Parks

Entertainment

Conservation

Education

Activity one: Prescriptive design for ecology educators

Activity two: Descriptive design for middle school students

Audience one

Educators

Grades 7-12

Ecology

Environmental Science

. . . that does not require reading a single sign

Challenge: Design a learning experience. . .

Camouflage Extirpation

Habitat designPredator/prey

Audience two

Students

Grades 7-8

Local ecology

Collect and record data

Features of organisms

Environmental structure

Interest in prairie ecosystem

Adaptations of native species

Influence of humans on ecosystem

Measure distribution plants or animals

Record adaptations/ behaviors of native species

Visually and verbally show human impact

Ethogram

Quadrant study

Journal

Video

Short story

Is this normal deer behavior to you?

Filming a fawn in the park

References

• Kearsley, G. (2009). Theory into Practice Database, The Theories. Retrieved October 4, 2009 from http://tip.psychology.org/theories.html

• Landa, L. (1983). Theories of learning and instruction: An analysis of their relationships and interactions. In C. M. Reigeluth (Ed.) Instructional-design theories and models: An Overview of their current status (pp. 56-68).

• Reigeluth, C. (1983) Instructional design: What is it and why is it? In C. M. Reigeluth (Ed.) Instructional-design theories and models: An Overview of their current status (pp. 56-68).

• Friday Family Prairie, outside of Byron, IL, September 2009

• Wildlife Prairie State Park, outside of Peoria, IL, October 2009

Picture Locales