The Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) three-year National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) grant worked with four
school districts along the James River in Virginia helped teachers and the students they serve
understand the role bivalves play in sustaining local watershed ecosystems. Two colleges across
three centers at VCU contributed to the grant, which include the School of Education Center for
Innovation in STEM Education, and VCU Life Sciences that included the VCU Rice Rivers Center
and the Center for Environmental Studies. External partners included the Harrison Lake National
Fish Hatchery-US Fish and Wildlife Service, the James River Association and the Chesapeake Bay
Foundation to help deliver a comprehensive program. Students shared their stewardship efforts at
the Virginia State Capitol. Five free environmental science modules (a collection of thematic lessons
coupled with digital media) developed through this NOAA grant are housed at the the Virginia
Department of Education “Go OpenVA” education portal. The modules present lessons in the
following areas: a) virtual field studies for mussels and oysters, b) online role-play experiences for
mussels and oysters, and c) an online simulation integrating the impact and sustainability of mussels
in an agricultural environment.
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Investigations in Environmental Science: The Role Bivalves Play in Sustaining Local Watershed Ecosystems. The Earth Scientist. Vol XL: Issue 4: 7 - 13
Five free environmental science modules, developed by the Virginia Commonwealth University’s
(VCU) School of Education, the VCU Center for Environmental Studies and the VCU Rice Rivers
Center, explore the role bivalves (mussels and oysters) play in sustaining local watershed ecosystems.
Developed in collaboration with teachers and their students from four school districts along the
James River in Virginia, the modules (a collection of thematic lessons coupled with digital media)
are housed at the Virginia Department of Education GoOpenVA Open Educational Resources
(OER) Portal. The modules include: a) virtual field studies for mussels and oysters, b) online roleplay
experiences for mussels and oysters, and c) an online simulation integrating the impact and
sustainability of mussels in an agricultural environment
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 2120665
- PAR ID:
- 10556316
- Publisher / Repository:
- National Earth Science Teacher Association
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- The Earth scientist
- Volume:
- XL
- Issue:
- 4
- ISSN:
- 1045-4772
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 7-12
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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