USA National Phenology Network’s Nature's NotebookA tool for educational programs: Teaching science literacy and climate change

LoriAnne BarnettUSA National Phenology Network, National Coordinating Office, Tucson, AZ

Nature’s Notebook enhances educational goals such as:

•Increasing science (STEM), climate, and phenological literacy through providing real world hands-on, experiential, outdoor learning activities

•Modeling inquiry-based learning

The USA-NPN Education Program•Teaches science and climate literacy to audiences in middle school, high school, college and adult volunteers through hands-on learning

•Shares curriculum materials designed in-house and by groups using Nature’s Notebook in the field

•Enhances science programming by providing reflection activities and opportunities to create hypotheses

Nature’s Notebook is an off-the-shelf program appropriate for scientists and non-scientists alike, engaging

citizen scientist volunteers across the US in collecting phenology

observations.

Curriculum & resources on USA-NPN’s website:

Contact information LoriAnne Barnett, Education Coord.

lorianne@usanpn.orgUSA National Phenology Network

What is the USA-NPN?The USA National Phenology Network

(USA-NPN, www.usanpn.org) is a national-scale science and monitoring

initiative focused on phenology as a tool to understand how plants, animals and landscapes respond to environmental

variation & climate change.

Seeking partnerships with educational, research, and management organizations

•Implement vetted, standardized protocols for collecting phenology observations

•Use phenology data and information•Develop inquiry-based education

Advantages of Nature’s Notebook for Education

Projects at work - Nature’s Notebook in the field

Nature’s Notebook as a platform for education•Experiential, real-world meaningful activity providing opportunities for career exploration •Training and education materials adaptable to fit many academic settings•Meet students “where they are”

- flexible: students can access webpage anytime - data entry using mobile apps (Android, iPhone) - students can participate “from their backyard”

•Hypothesis-testing or pattern-based research projects available for curriculum design•Leverage on data collected by other organizations and individuals•Assistance with program development

University of California, Santa Barbara

Since 2007 Dr. Susan Mazer and PhD candidate Brian Haggerty have been cultivating phenological literacy using Nature’s Notebook curricula for middle, high school, and college students. Materials have been field tested and are available on the USA-NPN Education page.

One-hour lectures Hands-on data

collection activities Three-hour training

workshops Discussion of peer-

reviewed literature Resources on

www.usanpn.org

Site-based Programs:US FWS Wildlife Refuges, National Park

Service, & Cooperative ExtensionPrograms with sites, nature centers, and volunteers are interested in phenology monitoring as a teaching tool and visitor engagement program. Nature’s Notebook programs enhance demonstration gardens and partnerships between local natural resource groups. Implementation information for site-based groups, volunteer training materials and collaboration ideas available at www.usanpn.org