<p>In this project an aquatic field trip resource is developed for both elementary and secondary teachers to use in their classes and at a pond site. It uses the compulsory activity from the grade 11 general level environmental science course as a model. Abiotic factors are measured and water organisms are surveyed so that the water quality can be determined.</p> <p>This study evaluates the effectiveness of a field trip to a pond in meeting the Ministry of Education science course objectives and looks at evaluation methods for the purpose of improving the learning experience for students. A report is given of water quality parameters as presented to the community of teachers who would possibly be using the site and a questionnaire given to survey their reactions and ideas about this report. To assist teachers further, a list of resources to help with this unit was developed from material gathered as the project took form.</p> <p>To put the unit and its teaching into a provincial focus and to gain practical ideas that would make teaching and preparing for the field trip more successful, a survey was done outlining the programs of similar centres nearby. Unfortunately, low data sets of students in the course could not reliably yield any scientific conclusions. The reactions of students to the activity, the historical background to this type of educational activity, and the positive effect of this additional tool in teachers' professional toolkits (Miles, 1990, ), shows this a worthwhile activity to undertake.</p> <p>The project did allow development of a detailed guide to aquatic organisms that can be used by teachers wanting some assistance teaching this unit. With changes by the current government, this particular course will not be offered again after the '98/99 school year. Courses at the elementary level will find this information helpful. Courses at the secondary level are currently being developed that should include units where this resource could be used.</p> / Master's of Science in Teaching (MST)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/13249 |
| Date | 09 1900 |
| Creators | Thompson, John William |
| Contributors | Chow-Fraser, Patricia, Henderson, Robert, Environmental Science |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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