BEST%20PRACTICES%20JANUARY%202007

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BEST PRACTICESJANUARY 2007

• Using creativity assessment in the classroom

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Getting Student Feedback

• Test review assessment
• Students wanted more interactive/hands on
  assignments
• A new character appears to provide more
  interaction
• Comparing the old with the new

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The Old WAY

• Biome - Terrestrial climax communities with wide
  geographic distributions.
• Usually defined by undisturbed natural plant
  communities.
• Temperature
• Precipitation

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Nine major biomes

• Desert
• Grassland
• Savanna
• Mediterranean Shrublands
• Tropical Dry Forest
• Tropical Rainforest
• Temperate Deciduous Forest
• Taiga
• Tundra

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Desert

• Less than 25 cm annual precipitation.
• Unevenly distributed throughout the year.
• Large daily temperature fluctuations.
• Likely to be windy.
• Infrequent cloud cover.
• Many species, but low numbers.
• Most species exhibit specialized adaptations to
  climate.
• Water Conservation

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Grasslands

• Also known as prairies or steppes.
• Receives 25 -75 cm of annual precipitation.
• Fire regime usually present.
• Rainfall sporadic enough to cause droughts.
• Historically evolved with large herds of
  migratory grazing mammals.
• Supply fertilizer and discourage invasion by
  woody species.

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Savanna

• Receives 50-150 cm annual precipitation.
• Unevenly distributed throughout year.
• Seasonally structured ecosystem.
• Fire is a common feature.
• Many trees involved in nitrogen fixation.

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Mediterranean Shrublands

• Also known as Chaparral.
• Receives 40-100 cm annual precipitation.
• Wet, cool winters and hot, dry summers.
• Typical of Mediterranean coast, coastal southern
  California, as well as parts of Africa, Chile,
  and Australia.
• Vegetation dominated by woody shrubs adapted to
  hot, dry summers.
• Fire is a common feature.

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Tropical Dry Forest

• Annual precipitation ranges 50-200cm.
• Many exhibit monsoon climate.
• Rainfall highly seasonal.
• Drought resistant plants.

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Tropical Rain Forest

• Located near equator where temperature is
  relatively warm and constant.
• Most areas receive 200 cm annual rainfall.
• (Some in excess of 500 cm)
• Soil allows high levels of leaching, thus most
  nutrients are tied-up in biomass.
• Multi-layered canopy.
• Epiphytic plants
• Very high species diversity.

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Temperate Deciduous Forest

• Receives 75-100 cm annual precipitation.
• Evenly distributed throughout the year.
• Trees typically lose their leaves during the
  winter and replace them the following spring.
• Mild winters
• Long growing season (6 months).
• Relatively few species.

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Taiga, Northern Coniferous (Boreal) Forest

• Receives 25-100 cm precipitation annually.
• Short, cool summers.
• Long winters with abundant snowfall.
• Humid climate
• Trees adapted to winter conditions
• Needle-shaped leaves prevent water loss.
• Flexible branches

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Tundra

• Less than 25 cm annual precipitation.
• Permanently frozen soil (permafrost).
• Short, wet summer.
• Waterlogged soils and shallow ponds and pools in
  spring and summer.
• Plants usually less than 20 cm tall.
• Alpine Tundra found on mountaintops

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The New Way

• Introducing

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WHICH BIOME IS ECOCHARLY VISITING TODAY?

• GDay mates. Im Ecocharly and Im a Greenie
  (Environmentalist). I didnt pay attention the
  day we went over biomes in class. I need your
  help to figure out where I am so I can get back
  home to my biome.

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Answers to biomes1

• CLUE FOR BIOME 1
• Ecocharley says, Its kind of windy here today
  but the skies are clear. Ive seen a few rabbits
  and a lizard or two but not much else. Id sure
  like a drink of water. Cant remember the last
  time it rained here. Was hot yesterday but it
  sure seemed cold last night.
• What biome is Ecocharley visiting?
• DESERT

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2

• CLUE FOR BIOME 2
• Ecocharley says lots of legumes here involved
  with adding nitrogen to the soil. Thought I
  heard a lion last night but Im not certain.
  Sure hope some rains come soon because I can see
  a grass fire off in the distance. Last month it
  was really wet here.
• What biome is Ecocharley visiting?
• SAVANNA

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3

• CLUE FOR BIOME 3
• Ecocharley says, My, oh my, its hot and humid
  today. When will this stupid rain stop? I cant
  remember ever seeing so many species of plants
  and animals in one place. Ive seen pineapples,
  lemons, limes, grapefruit, and tangerines. Its
  like living in the produce section of Schnucks
  grocery store. Theres a clearing up ahead.
  Looks like someone has done some logging in this
  area as the soil has washed away.
• What biome is Ecocharley visiting?
• TROPICAL RAINFOREST

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4

• CLUE FOR BIOME 4
• Ecocharley says, It was sure cool yesterday.
  Hard to believe its July. Its a little foggy
  this morning as well. Saw a small bird in a
  spruce tree yesterday. Man those needles are
  sharp. I need a snowmobile if I stayed here
  during the winter.
• What biome is Ecocharley visiting?
• TAIGA

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5

• CLUE FOR BIOME 5
• Ecocharley says, I tried to use an axe to get
  through this ground to put up my tent stakes two
  months ago up but the ground was as hard as a
  rock. Needed some firewood last night but only
  saw a bush but it was only about a foot tall. I
  walked through a bunch of shallow ponds yesterday
  and the bugs about ate me up. I could have sworn
  I heard a wolf last night so I better keep my
  shotgun and handy boomerang ready.
• What biome is Ecocharley visiting?
• TUNDRA

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6

• CLUE FOR BIOME 6
• Ecocharley says, Its the end of September and
  weve had slightly over 5 cm of rain this month.
  Yesterday was a beautiful day with 80 degree
  weather. Glad I wasnt here during the summer
  because it was so hot some of the grass caught
  fire but the woody shrubs were okay. Saw a
  coyote carrying a rattlesnake in his mouth.
• What biome is Ecocharley visiting?
• MEDITERRANEAN SHRUBLAND

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7

• CLUE FOR BIOME 7
• Ecocharly says, I heard that Forrest Gump and
  his buddy Bubba were out looking for me today.
  They said that 2 months ago the mud was so thick
  you could barely walk through it and the rain
  kept coming night and day. We could use a good
  rain today. The ground now is as hard as a rock
  and that sun bakes it harder every day. Lots of
  species of plants and birds here but not as many
  as Ive seen in other biomes.
• What biome is Ecocharley visiting?
• TROPICAL DRY FOREST

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8

• CLUE FOR BIOME 8
• Ecocharly says, The leaves are rapidly turning
  bright colors of red and orange this month and it
  is a little drier than last month. I guess you
  all know whats around the corner in this biome.
  But in a few short months the flowers will be
  blooming and the leaves will grow again and
  everything will be nice and green. I think I see
  a deer coming and if Im careful maybe Ill get
  him with my bow and arrow now that that is in
  season.
• What biome is Ecocharley visiting?
• TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS FOREST

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Ecocharlys home biome is

• GRASSLAND

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Meet Dingo Jack and the further Ecoadventures of
Ecocharly

• Ecocharly tries to figure out the difference
  between K-strategists r-strategists

• Ecocharly tries to decide which of his Uncle
  Bigbuckaroos fossil fuel facilities is best for
  the environment

• Ecocharly and Dingo Jack try to determine which
  alternative energy form is the best to invest in
  for the future

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Student Feedback

• Immediately after doing the exercise only 2
  students felt is was not helpful to them in
  learning the material ironically they had the
  two highest grades on first test
• After taking the test over this material
• Test scores remained virtually unchanged from
  first test
• 1/3 of students wanted more hands-on activities
• 1/3 wanted both hands-on and traditional lecture
• 1/3 wanted traditional lecture