"There are so many aspects of the week that stand out in my mind as a 'favorite'. I have so much to learn but I gained a wealth of knowledge last week and I can't wait to find applications in my personal life and in my classroom!"
"This class is a course that actually teaches us about and shows us the environment that we are trying to preserve. This class really helped to remind me why I am in this program in the first place, and it gave me new reasons as well ."
"
The history of Minnesota is an important aspect to teaching biology. I think it gives students context and also helps them become better conservationists because they have more of a connection to the land they live on. To help my students achieve this connection, I will be telling some of the stories I heard, explaining and demonstrating the uses of various plants, and trying to pass on a more tactile sense of the biology in Minnesota."
"This class has built an enormous base of knowledge that I hope to build upon even further and to use in the classroom!"
|
Minnesota Forests
SCED 7671
March 2-4, 2012.....2 credits
Minnesota is famous for its forests, as it home to the convergence of the northern conifer forest and the eastern deciduous forest. During this weekend course based at the Audubon Center, students will spend time in a number of habitats and learn basic tree identification, features, patterns and forest types. Students will also learn about different forest management practices, past and present, which continue to shape Minnesota’s forests today.
Sustainable Energy
and Food Systems
ENED 7739
March 30- April 1, 2012.....2 credits
This course looks at how humans use energy and ways we can reduce our environmental impact through energy conservation, efficiency and renewable energy production. During this weekend course based at the Audubon Center, students will gain firsthand experience with these areas by examining measures that the Audubon Center on these fronts. This course also looks at the food systems of society, and its environmental and economic impacts. We will examine how we can move to sustainable food systems through behavior changes towards local, organic, and community shared models, and visit a local, organic community shared agriculture (CSA) farm.
Spring Flora
SCED 7685
May 11-12, 2012.....1 credit
Spring in the eastern deciduous forest abounds with color and beauty thanks to the amazing wildflower display that takes place. This weekend course based at the Audubon Center will get students outside to learn wildflower identification, terminology and features. Students will investigate several habitats as they identify and understand the beauty of spring through its flora.
Birds of East Central Minnesota
SCED 7602
June 8-9, 2012.....1 credit
Late spring is a time for witnessing the influx of hundreds of species of birds through Minnesota. During this weekend course based at the Audubon Center, students will be introduced to basic bird identification techniques, including field markings, vocalizations and behaviors. Students will spend the weekend becoming familiar with the bird species found in Minnesota through outside investigation and identification.
Ecological Systems: Biomes
NSEE 8200
July 23-27, 2012..........3 credits
This course examines the three major biomes that intersect in Minnesota: deciduous forest, coniferous forest, and prairie. During this course, students will study and identify key features found in each of the three biomes. Participants will also study the ecological relationships between organisms that are typically found in each area. Students will travel throughout the state to experience each of the biomes firsthand, camping at various locations throughout the week.
Reading the Landscape
SCED 7679
November 2-4, 2012..........2 credits
The landscapes around us are filled with stories of why they look the way they do. During this course based at the Audubon Center, students will examine the “why” of what is around them, and start discovering the clues to piece together an area’s story. These skills have universal application. Students will learn how to identify common Minnesota plants and trees and how disturbance on the landscape affects plant communities, patterns and distribution. They will apply research and observation skills to interpret various stories on the landscape, enabling them to put together stories of “what happened here”.
|
