environmental education and the construction of a...

Environmental Education and the Construction of a Statewide Lichen Database

5/10/07

ASPRS Annual Convention - Tampa, FL 1

Environmental Education and the Construction of a Statewide Lichen Database for Georgia

using GPS and GIS Technology

Thomas R. JordanDepartment of Geography

and Robert J. Hill

Department of Lifelong Education, Administration and PolicyThe University of GeorgiaAthens, Georgia 30602


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Objectives

• To train environmental educators from Georgia to identify a range of lichen species

• To map their locations using handheld GPS units

• To establish a state-wide lichen database for Georgia

• Teachers earn continuing education credits


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Course Structure

• Week-long summer residential workshop– Georgia DNR – Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center

• Three follow-on weekend sessions throughout the year– Fall – South or Middle Georgia State Park– Winter – University of Georgia– Spring – North Georgia State Park

• Total 8 contact days over one year• All expenses/materials provided by grant

Curriculum

• Fundamentals of lichen identification• GPS and GIS technology overview• Scientific data collection methods• Integration of new knowledge into

classroom instruction– Exercises, materials– Lichen and environmental ecology– GPS and GIS hands-on


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Participants

• K12 Teachers• Science educators• Environmental educators from science

centers, summer camps• Georgia educators only• Total 54 teachers to-date

– 18 registered for summer 2007

Geospatial Concepts• Mapping Procedures

– Coordinate systems– Projections– Map feature types– Aerial photographs– Accuracy issues

• Global Positioning System– Fundamentals of GPS

• Satellites• Errors

– Use of handheld receivers • Navigation principals • Collection and recording

of point data• Satellite coverage

• Geographic Information Systems– Map layers– Feature representation– Analysis fundamentals

• Web-based Resources– Google Earth– Geography Network– ArcIMS Lichen Map


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Garmin Geko 201Personal Navigator

• WAAS enabled• 500 Waypoints; 20 routes• Trip computer• Celestial tables for best

times to hunt and fish• GPS games built-in• Lightweight; waterproof


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Data Collection Procedures


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Lichen Identification


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Teacher Resources

Georgia Performance Standards

• Building program to fit Georgia curriculum– Lesson plans– Field exercises– Interactive activities– Classroom materials – lichen samples, Identification

cards– Web site resources

• Photos / keys• Software (ArcExplorer)• Base data sets (counties, road, rivers, etc)• Lichen data


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Lichens as Environmental Indicators

• Lichens can be employed to assess environmental factors– Abundance of species– Presence / non-presence of indicator species

• Creating a list of 12 lichens to be used in classroom studies

• Teach lichen identification, sampling methods, data collection and recording

• Analysis of environmental factors

Lichen Identification Card


5/10/07


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Air Quality Particulate Emissions

Air Quality# 0.022 - 177.08# 177.08 - 540.694# 540.694 - 1024.993# 1024.993 - 1693.658# 1693.658 - 4680.266

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Gilman Paper Co St Marys Kraft Bag

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50 0 50 MilesN

EW

S

Air Quality Particulate Emissions

Air Quality# 0.022 - 177.08# 177.08 - 540.694# 540.694 - 1024.993# 1024.993 - 1693.658# 1693.658 - 4680.266

1 mile buffers

5 miles

Arc View Example


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Conclusions• This will be our final year of our second two-year grant.

– Offering an advanced class for returning students• Over 2200 lichen samples collected throughout Georgia• 54 educators educated to-date• Poster-child project for the Teacher Quality Grant

program• Removing the mystery and enhancing understanding of

geospatial technology• Providing tools and applications to carry the concepts of

scientific data collection and geospatial analysis to the classroom

environmental education and the construction of a...

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