RiverWebs: Optimizing a Documentary on Stream Ecology for Science Teachers in the U.S. and Japan

该奖项支持美日教师研讨会和其他活动，这些活动旨在利用科学教育的独特机会，改编由美国国家科学基金会资助的一部成功的科学纪录片《河流网》，供初中和高中课堂使用。《河流之网》是一部独特的科学纪录片，讲述了河流生态系统的自然历史，探索了河流和森林食物网之间的相互联系，揭示了生态研究背后的发现过程和人类故事。这部电影还记录了京都大学的中野茂博士的生活和工作，他对日本河流与森林食物网联系的开创性研究引起了美国最好的生态学家的注意，直到他在2000年3月的一次研究事故中悲惨地去世。该项目的一个主要目标是让一个由美国科学教师组成的咨询委员会直接参与电影制作过程。项目计划1)咨询他们在教室的关键目标版本2)他们参与实地考察看河流生态学的重要元素,3)获得他们的输入使这部电影与国家科学教学标准,4)要求的审查脚本和粗糙的削减,5)获得他们的帮助安排在真实的课堂中试映,6)问他们意见的最佳方法和场所传播最终产品。第二，本项目计划于2009年夏季在京都附近的琵琶湖博物馆举行美日科学教师交流活动，与一个类似的日本科学教师小组进行交流，他们正在为我们提供有关这部电影日文版的建议。他们的目标是制作一个价格实惠的DVD套装（10-20美元），可以通过《淡水画报》购买。确保教材产生广泛影响的传播计划包括：1)通过在国家科学教师协会全国会议和其他类似团体上的演讲来推广教材；2)在这些团体的专业出版物和通讯中做广告；3)将每五份教材捐赠给内城和农村地区资源不足的学校，以接触到代表性不足和处境不利的学生。

This award supports a U.S.-Japan teacher workshop and other activities designed to capitalize on a unique opportunity for science education by adapting a successful NSF-funded science documentary film, RiverWebs, for use in junior high and high school classrooms. RiverWebs is a unique science documentary about the natural history of stream ecosystems, exploring the interconnections between the stream and forest food webs and unveiling the process of discovery and human stories behind ecological research. The film also chronicles the life and work of Dr. Shigeru Nakano of Kyoto University, whose seminal work on stream-forest food web connections in Japan drew the attention of the best U.S. ecologists before his tragic death in a research accident in March 2000. A main goal of the project is to engage an advisory committee of U.S. science teachers directly in the film making process. The project plans to 1) consult with them on key objectives for the classroom version, 2) engage them in a field trip to see important elements of stream ecology first hand, 3) garner their input to align the film with national science teaching standards, 4) ask for their review of scripts and rough cuts, 5) gain their help in arranging test screenings in real classrooms, and 6) ask their advice on the best methods and venues for disseminating the final product. Second, the project plan a U.S.-Japan Science Teacher Exchange during summer 2009 at the Lake Biwa Museum near Kyoto to interact with a similar team of Japanese science teachers who are advising us on a Japanese language version of the film. The goal is to create a highly affordable DVD package ($10-20) that will be available through Freshwaters Illustrated. The dissemination plan to ensure a broad impact for materials includes: 1) promoting it through presentations at the National Science Teachers Association national meeting and other similar groups, 2) advertising it in professional publications and newsletters from these groups, and 3) donating every fifth copy to under-resourced schools in inner city and rural areas to reach under-represented and disadvantaged students.