The document describes several biodiversity studies conducted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for K-12 students. The studies involve collecting data on spiders, frogs and toads, and squirrels. For each study, students learn about the species, identify local habitats to observe, collect weekly data, and submit monthly reports. Students can view data collected by other classes on interactive species maps. The goal is to involve students in authentic scientific research to help scientists study changes in local habitats and biodiversity over time.

1. IDNR Illinois Biodiversity
Studies
Roxana Hadad
Project and Instructional Designer
The Collaboratory Project
Northwestern University
r-hadad@northwestern.edu
roxana@roxanahadad.com

2. The Collaboratory Project
• Northwestern University
initiative
• Project consulting
• Training
• Technical advice
• Web-based resources
• K-12 teachers and their
students

3. Illinois Department of Natural
Resources
Division of Education
• Educational programs
• Materials about the
state's natural resources

4. IDNR
Division of Education
•Grades PreK-12
•Aligned to ILS
• Free posters, CD-ROMs,
lessons, DVDs and activity
books
• Trunks of supplemental
material
• Workshops

5. How can IDNR effectively get materials
and training to teachers who cannot
attend workshops?

6. START Astronomy
Research Collaboratory
Broadening
participation in
authentic
astronomy research

7. A Gateway to
Science Research
 Collaboratory resources bring collaborative data collection and
science research into the classroom
Lincoln Park Zoo (ES)
Illinois Department of Natural Resources (MS)
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum (HS)
 A common resource for learning science by doing science

8. Illinois Biodiversity
Collect data for scientists
Spiders
Frogs & Toads
Squirrels
Students focus on their local habitat
Year-long, Multi-year, Multi-species
Track and analyze change over time
Integrate climate/environmental data

9. IDNR Illinois Biodiversity
Spider Study

10. The Spider Study
1. Let’s Learn about Spiders
2. What Are We Looking For?
3. Let’s Look for Spiders!
4. The Secret Lives of Spiders
5. Monthly Spider Reports
6. Spiders, Spiders Everywhere!

11. Activity 1:
Let’s Learn About Spiders
Students review the Spider
Cybrary to learn about the
anatomy, habitat and life cycle
of spiders.

12. Activity 2:
What Are We Looking For?
Students learn about the spiders (the
target species) that IDNR scientists are
interested in having data collected for.

13. Activity 3:
Let’s Look for Spiders!
Students find spider
habitats in and around
their school or home.

14. Activity 4:
The Secret Lives of Spiders
Students observe,
collect data, and
report on each of
two spider
populations once
or twice a week.

15. Activity 5:
Monthly Spider Reports
Each class creates a
monthly report
summarizing their
findings and reviews
other class’ monthly
reports.

16. Activity 5:
Monthly Spider Reports -
Comments
Students interact with
arachnologists who
comment on their data
and monthly journals,
as well as answer
general spider
questions.

17. Activity 6:
Spiders, Spiders Everywhere!
Students use the IDNR
Interactive Spider Map
to see where other
students are collecting
data on spiders and link
to survey studio data
and monthly reports.

18. Videoconference
Students
spoke with
scientists
doing
research at
the Field
Museum
about
spiders.

19. Project Website
http://collaboratory.nunet.net/sponsoredprojects/idnr/spidershttp://collaboratory.nunet.net/sponsoredprojects/idnr/spiders

20. IDNR Illinois Biodiversity Frog
and Toad Study
 Online workshop
for teachers
 Project for
students

21. The Frog and Toad Study
1. Let’s Learn about Frogs and Toads
2. What Are We Listening For?
3. Let’s Listen for Frogs and Toads
4. The Secret Lives of Frogs and Toads
5. Monthly Frog and Toad Reports
6. Frogs and Toads are Everywhere!

22. Activity 1:
Let’s Learn About Frogs and
Toads
Students review the Frog
and Toad Cybrary to learn
about the anatomy,
habitat and life cycle of
frogs and toads.

23. Activity 2:
What Are We Listening For?
Students learn about the frogs and
toads that IDNR scientists are
interested in having data collected for.

24. Activity 3:
Let’s Listen for Frogs and
Toads!
Students go out after dusk to a
nearby water source and listen for
frogs and toads along a route.
http://greennature.com/gallery/frog-pictures/bullfrog.jpg

25. Activity 4:
The Secret Lives of Frogs and
Toads
Students observe,
and collect data
along their route
once a month.

26. Activity 5:
Monthly Frog and Toad Reports
Each class creates a
monthly report
summarizing their
findings and reviews
other class’ monthly
reports.

27. Activity 6:
Frogs and Toads are
Everywhere!
Students use the IDNR
Interactive Frog and
Toad Map to see where
other students are
collecting data on frogs
and toads and link to
survey studio data and
monthly reports.

28. Project Website
http://collaboratory.nunet.net/sponsoredprojects/idnr/frogsandtoadshttp://collaboratory.nunet.net/sponsoredprojects/idnr/frogsandtoads

29. IDNR Illinois Biodiversity Frog
and Toad Study
 Online workshop for
teachers
 Project for students

30. The Squirrel Study
1. Let’s Learn about Squirrels
2. What Are We Looking For?
3. Let’s Look for Squirrels
4. Our Predictions
5. The Secret Lives of Squirrels
5. Monthly Squirrels Reports
6. Squirrels, Squirrels Everywhere!

31. Activity 1:
Let’s Learn About Squirrels
Students review the
Squirrel Cybrary to learn
about the anatomy,
habitat, behaviors and life
cycle of squirrels.

32. Activity 2:
What Are We Looking For?
Students learn about the squirrels
that IDNR scientists are interested
in having data collected for.

33. Activity 3:
Let’s Look for Squirrels!
Students look for squirrel habitats
around their school and for the
targeted squirrel species and
create habitat reports.

34. Activity 4:
Our Predictions
Students make
some predictions
about what they
think the data will
show.

35. Activity 5:
The Secret Lives of Squirrels
Students observe,
and collect data
once a week.

36. Activity 6:
Monthly Squirrel Reports
Each class creates a
monthly report
summarizing their
findings and reviews
other class’ monthly
reports.

37. Activity 7:
Squirrels are Everywhere!
Students use the IDNR
Interactive Squirrel Map
to see where other
students squirrels and
link to survey studio
data and monthly
reports.

38. Project Website
http://collaboratory.nunet.net/sponsoredprojects/idnr/squirrelshttp://collaboratory.nunet.net/sponsoredprojects/idnr/squirrels

39. Science Education Research
Collaboratory
Establish a common Web-based collaborative
environment as a gateway for teachers and students to
become involved in authentic data-driven research across
multiple disciplines.

40. What Next?

41. iCollaboratory
• Google
• Moodle

42. Google Forms

43. Google Docs

44. Google Docs

45. Google Maps

46. Connect Now

47. Questions?

48. Thank you!

49. IDNR Illinois Biodiversity
Studies
Roxana Hadad
Project and Instructional Designer
The Collaboratory Project
Northwestern University
r-hadad@northwestern.edu
roxana@roxanahadad.com