Education Breakout Group
Primary Goal Provide opportunities for accessible lifelong learning through phenology
Key Concepts Phenology is science – relevant, low cost, simple, accessible, powerful, integrative Phenology is integral in human decision-making Phenological events are changing in space and time Phenology allows early detection of impact of climate change and variability on plants and animals Phenology affects humans through health, leisure, agriculture, transportation, forestry Phenology reflects connectivity and synchrony in ecological systems Phenology has a long and interesting tradition
Objectives Engage target audiences effectively Effectively communicate value of program Develop, adopt, adapt phenology educational and outreach materials relevant to target audience Develop sense of community and contribution to knowledge
Objectives (cont.) Encourage communication among observers, including existing groups Regularly provide results to public, in large part to generate excitement and continued involvement Minimize barriers to involvement for all interested groups Ensure submitted data can be used in scientific studies Get feedback from participants and data users
Potential Partners GLOBE Journey North Extension programs Frog Watch National Parks Museums and Botanical Gardens Boy and Girl Scouts 4H FFA Retirement homes Smithsonian Audubon NSTA NACD ESA BSA DLESE
Actions Evaluate what is already out there Identify and prioritize target audiences (e.g., specific age group) Include target species and phenological events that occur within the school year Develop user-friendly website Develop recording and archiving system Develop system to visualize results Consider pilot projects
Actions (cont.) Draw up invitations to potential participating groups specific to their interests Develop “how to” materials according to target audience - Field guides - Guides to recording data Develop training workshops Align educational materials to national, state, local educational standards Develop phenology and climate modules that can be distributed to other organizations Develop methods for evaluation and assessment
Measures of Success Number of schools and observers Web visits Downloads of resources Training sessions Media stories Repeat participation Annual increases in numbers of participants