Abstract
This paper focuses on a series of transdisciplinary projects spanning design, engineering, environmental science, agriculture, and biotechnology education. Utilizing the AgroLab Uniandes model, the study explores the development and ongoing advancement of diverse, innovative STEM learning environments within an urban secondary school setting. Pond tanks are artificial enclosures capable of holding water, fish, plants, and other organisms. The lentic ecosystem project originated through the convergence of two previous programs. The first, started in 2000, was an aquaculture system in a high school horticulture program focused on the production of ornamental koi for fundraising and care of native fish species under the supervision of the state game and inland fisheries department. The second system, started in 2016, was an aquaculture production system focused on the production of tilapia at the former high school facility. After a new high school facility was built, the system was repurposed to become a lentic ecosystem focused on educational activities designed to promote local ecosystems. The lentic ecosystem project operates year-round with student learning experiences that include monitoring water quality, the feeding of aquatic wildlife, tracking aquarium data, and completing routine maintenance. The lentic/aquaponic ecosystem project provides students with the opportunity to learn about all the components to sustain artificial enclosures capable of holding water, fish, plants, and other organisms through practical hands-on learning. This project enables the student to understand that they can apply what they have learned through their experiences by adapting those experiences into new and more complex contexts in the future.
Presenters
Ray Wu RorrerEducator, Falls Church City Public Schools, Meridian High School, Virginia, United States Peter Mecca
Adjunct Professor, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, and Laboratory Management, School of Integrative and Professional Studies, University of Maryland Global Campus, Virginia, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Education, Assessment and Policy
KEYWORDS
STEM EDUCATION, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, SUSTAINABILITY, INTERDISCIPLINARY ECOLOGICAL PRACTICES, POND TANKS
