Crossing Boundaries and Exploring Biodiversity Conservation Using Information Technologies

《跨越边界》将为初高中学生提供知识、技能、动机和灵感，让他们利用信息和通信技术（ICT）解决区域和国际环境下的生物多样性保护问题。该项目将包括课程开发、持续的教师专业发展，以及让学生有机会看到科学和环境事业的发展。利用地理空间技术，中学生将分析当地或区域环境以及巴西亚马逊和墨西哥恰帕斯的生物多样性保护问题。一系列ICT选项将使学生能够与在国际环境中从事生物多样性相关研究的科学家、保护专业人员、本科生实习生和研究生进行互动。通过制作以网络为媒介的交流，学生将使用高度吸引人的技术与同龄人合作。学生将学习分析本地和国际环境问题所需的分析和技术技能。项目评估将确定国际计算机媒介交流和探索在提供变革性体验方面的有效性，这些体验旨在增强学生对科学的兴趣，为ict相关职业选择提供新的视角，并加深学生对自己作为全球公民角色的认识。该项目将惠及纽约市中心的中学生，特别是那些生活在经济萧条的农村或城市地区的学生，这些地区在ICT领域的代表性一直不足。相关的、基于项目的学习经验将激励学生学习环境科学课程，帮助表现不佳的学生在学校取得成功。教师将发展信息和通信技术方面的技术和教学能力，使他们能够让学生参与技术密集型项目，这些项目将建立全球意识和职业选择的视角。

Crossing Boundaries will provide middle and high school students with the knowledge, skills, motivation, and inspiration to use information and communication technologies (ICT) in addressing biodiversity conservation issues in regional and international contexts. The project will entail curriculum development, sustained teacher professional development, and opportunities for students to see scientific and environmental careers in action. Using geospatial technology, secondary students will analyze biodiversity conservation issues in their local or regional environment as well as in the Brazilian Amazon and in Chiapas, Mexico. A range of ICT options will enable students to interact with scientists, conservation professionals, undergraduate interns, and graduate students who are working on biodiversity-related research in international settings. Through production of web-mediated communications, students will use highly engaging technologies to collaborate with peers. Students will learn the analytic and technical skills necessary for analysis of environmental issues in local and international contexts. Project evaluation will determine the effectiveness of international computer-mediated communication and exploration in providing transformative experiences intended to bolster student interest in science, provide new perspectives on ICT-related career options, and deepen students' awareness of their role as global citizens. This project will benefit secondary students in central New York, especially those living in economically depressed rural or urban settings traditionally underrepresented in ICT fields. The relevant, project-based learning experiences will motivate students in environmental science courses for underperforming students, helping them succeed in school. Teachers will develop technological and pedagogical competence in ICT, enabling them to engage students in technology-intensive projects that will build global awareness and perspectives of career options.