Educational Outreach on Seneca Lake

1
Educational Outreach on Seneca Lake

• Curriculum Development for the Science on Seneca
  Program

2
Objectives

• Science on Seneca Curriculum Development
• Personal Reflections on Education Development

3
Science on Seneca Curriculum Development

• Objectives
• Develop effective curriculum for SOS
• Strong connection to real world environmental
  issues affecting Seneca Lake.
• Activity skill development for students to use
  science/technology-based tools.
• Promotion of self-discovery/self-directed
  learning.
• Incorporate hand-on and distance learning.
• Spark future interest in environmental issues.

4
Curriculum Development Plan

• Preparation for curriculum development
• Analysis of environmental issues
• Data collection
• Data interpretation and manipulation
• Development of curricular plan
• Final curriculum modification

5
Zebra Mussels and their Impact On Seneca Lake

• Analysis performed on Seneca Lake historical data
  set
• Noted decline in Chlorophyll-a concentration over
  time (1991-2006)
• Additionally secchi disk depths indicated
  opposing trend (increased water clarity)
• Phosphorus limiting ruled out by other reasearch

6
Source John Halfman
7
Source John Halfman
8
Source John Halfman
9
Source John Halfman
10
Further Exploration

• Make connections between Chlorophyll-a
  concentration and Zebra Mussel density.
• No Zebra Mussel data for Seneca
• Draw connections to other lake systems
• Lake Ontario, similar trends
• Attempting to find older data to make connections

11
Source Edward Mills and James Watkins
12
Source Edward Mills and James Watkins
13
Additional Goals

• Further develop datasets for use with student
  activities
• Create activities for student learning
  experiences
• Connect data sets with additional background
  research

14
Background Research

• Collection of articles on subject
• Development of background information packet
• Students
• Compilation packet
• Teachers
• Compilation packet
• Full text research articles

15
Future Questions

• What other broader impacts are relevant to SOS
  program?
• Zebra/Quagga mussel dynamics
• Potential for broader ecosystem impacts
• Collection of data on fish population trends
• Other environmental issues facing Seneca Lake

16
Source Edward Mills and James Watkins
17
Source Edward Mills, John Halfman, and James
Watkins