Exploring and Modeling Ecosystems
Using Information Technology (IT)

EcoScienceWorks is an NSF ITEST project for seventh and eighth grade science teachers and students in Maine. Its major goal is to develop computer-based curriculum for the Maine laptop program that will spur student interest in computer modeling in science.

In July 2007 SimBiotic Software and MIT's Teacher Education Program introduced a block-interface programming language into EcoBeaker: Maine ExplorerTM that will give students hands-on experience making their own computer models in a new lab called "Program a Bunny."

HIGHLIGHTS OF YEAR 2 Summer Session

The opening screen

"Program a Bunny" screenshot

EcoScienceWorks curriculum aligns with state and national science learning standards and integrates into the existing middle school ecology curriculum.

Year 2 Summer Session: EcoScienceWorks teachers...

interacted with experts in computer modeling

SimBiotic Software and MIT Teacher Education Program scientists-programmers introduced teachers to the code-block programming language and helped them design "interactive simulations" to introduce students to the new EcoBeaker: Maine ExplorerTM lab, "Program a Bunny."

added GPS and GIS curricular units in ecology to EcoScienceWorks

Working in "Special Project" teams, teachers developed simple GPS and GIS activities using Garmin eTrex GPS units and My World GIS software. Teachers designed a field exercise that aligns with several of the EcoBeaker: Maine ExplorerTM labs. This added dimension allows students to gather local environmental and GPS data and incorporate these into My World GIS. An additional GIS activity under development will model local habitat fragmentation and extend concepts introduced in the EcoBeaker: Maine ExplorerTM lab "Edgelands and Fractured Forests."

refined their Year 1 EcoScienceWorks curricular units

Working in their Year 1 teams, teachers modified their ecology curricular units using feedback from the  Year 1 field test. Many of the lesson plans were finalized for publishing.

EcoScienceWorks Summer Session - August 2007

The summer session at Kieve and on Hog Island again combined hard work and play. Maine middle school teachers created new lesson plans and "interactive simulations" to complement the new EcoBeaker: Maine ExplorerTM "Program a Bunny" lab. In addition, GPS and GIS lesson plans were created.  The teachers piloted these new additions to the EcoScienceWorks curriculum with 11 eighth grade students.

Year 2 Summer Session Feedback

Two students, Joe Howe and Barry McLeod, were interviewed by a Kathadin Press reporter after returning from Hog Island. In the interview, Barry told the reporter, "It was a lot of fun. We had to program these bunnies to search for, find, and eat a certain amount of food in a certain amount of time. Each hop would expend a certain amount of energy and we had to get them to the carrots before they ran out of energy. It was kind of like a video game, but the parameters were all entered..."

Teachers evaluations indicated that they not only enjoyed the experience but also felt they had made important contributions to the project. All were enthusiastic about field testing the new "Program a Bunny" lab in their classrooms this fall.

EcoScienceWorks is a National Science Foundation (NSF) ITEST Project directed by:

EcoBeakerTM and EcoBeaker HSTM are trademarks of SimBiotic Software