Crossing Boundaries and Exploring Biodiversity Conservation Using Information Technologies

跨越国界将为初中生和高中生提供使用信息和通信技术(ICT)解决区域和国际背景下的生物多样性保护问题的知识、技能、动机和灵感。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职业的实际行动。利用地理空间技术，中学生将分析他们当地或地区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与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互动。通过制作以网络为媒介的交流，学生将使用高度参与性的技术与同龄人合作。学生将学习在当地和国际背景下分析环境问题所需的分析和技术技能。项目评估将决定国际计算机传播和探索在提供旨在提高学生对科学的兴趣的变革性体验方面的有效性，为与信息和通信技术相关的职业选择提供新的视角，并加深学生对其作为全球公民的角色的认识。该项目将使纽约市中心的中学生受益，特别是那些生活在经济不景气的农村或城市环境中的学生，这些学生在信息和通信技术领域历来任职人数较少。相关的基于项目的学习经验将激励学生参加针对表现不佳的学生的环境科学课程，帮助他们在学校取得成功。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对职业选择的认识和观点。

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.