FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2008
Source: Robin Goettel (217)333-9448; goettel@uiuc.edu Valeri
Werpetinski (217) 333-3370; werpetin@uiuc.edu Environmental Fair Unveils Student Community Stewardship Projects
URBANA - At the Nab the Aquatic Invaders! Community
Stewardship Fair on April 23 at the University of Illinois Environmental
Horizons, educational projects created by local school children will be on
display as part of an innovative U of I course. This new service-learning
course was designed to encourage learning through teaching and to empower
university students, youth, and the community to take action. “Service learning is a form of experiential education
in which learning occurs through a cycle of action and reflection,” said
Valeri Werpetinski, education specialist at the U of I Center for Teaching
Excellence. “In this process, students work with others to apply what
they are learning to address community problems and, at the same time, reflect
on their experiences.” The course (NRES 285: Community Stewardship through
Environmental Education) is centered on the
concern of aquatic invasive species, such as Asian carp and zebra mussels,
which wreak havoc with lake and river ecosystems. Using a science-based web
site Nab the Aquatic Invaders! (www.sgnis.org.kids),
university students brought this issue to local 4th, 5th,
and 7th grade students at Stratton Elementary School, Thomas Paine
Elementary School, Edison Middle School and Campus Middle School for Girls. “The web site provides a creative way to learn about
invasive species,” said Robin Goettel, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant associate
director for education. “It has colorful cartoon characters and a
crime-fighting theme, but the site is rich with information on how invasive
species are transported to local waters, their impacts, and how they can be
controlled.” The U of I students then directed this knowledge towards
making a concrete difference. “They met with representatives from
libraries, park districts, outdoor clubs, a museum, and a forest preserve
district as well as from a local business to learn about their programs to
inform the public about invasive species and to talk about potential
educational opportunities,” explained Goettel. Students guided youth in the development of community
stewardship projects that address educational needs of these organizations by
informing visitors what they can do to help prevent the spread of invasive
aquatic species. “The school children used creative approaches to
inform the community about the issues and to inspire responsible environmental
decision-making--they incorporated science content into display boards,
activity books, a calendar, and they even wrote and performed skits about
invasive species,” said Werpetinski. “Service-learning helps students gain a deeper
understanding of academic content, but it also challenges them to develop
critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It’s a powerful teaching
strategy that can foster personal growth and a sense of civic responsibility in
students,” said Werpetinski. “That’s good for the
students, and in this case, it’s good for the environment, too.” The fair features student-created projects that will be used
in education programs offered by community organizations in Champaign and
Urbana. It takes place Wednesday, April 23, 5:00-6:45 p.m. in the South Lounge
of the Illini Union, 1401 W. Green St., Urbana. This event is open to the
public and is part of the annual Environmental Horizons, which is a
showcase of environmental activities on campus sponsored by the Environmental
Council. In keeping with the concept of creating partnerships, the
course was a collaboration of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, U of I Extension, the
Center for Teaching Excellence, and the U of I Department of Natural Resources
and Environmental Sciences. This project was supported by the Provost’s
Initiative on Teaching Advancement and the COSEE Great Lakes Project. --30— The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program is one of 30
National Sea Grant College Programs. Created by Congress in 1966, Sea Grant
combines university, government, business and industry expertise to address
coastal and Great Lakes needs. Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of
Commerce, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, the University of
Illinois and Purdue University. Irene Miles |