Finals week: every student and teacher in the building running around, tying up loose ends, and doing the best they can to make it through these last few days before summer vacation grants a bit of freedom back.
Amidst all of the studying and preparing for their final exams for this semester, a certain group of students at Lake City is already preparing for their classes for next semester. This dedicated group is the IB (International Baccalaureate) Certificate or Diploma Program students; some of the highest achieving and brightest young people on campus. So dedicated in fact, that they even tackle a set of assignments throughout their summer vacation in preparation for each of their IB courses.
For next year's IB Environmental Systems and Societies (IBESS) students, preparing for our class together next semester started yesterday after school with a little technology training for PolarTREC! For their summer assignment, IBESS students will follow along with my expedition to the glacier Mulajokull in central Iceland.
During our activities, students asked about the size of Mulajokull, where on the island it is located, and why reserachers were headed there this summer. (Image courtesy of Google)
The IBESS course is designed to teach environmental science concepts through the lens of interdisciplinary "systems science". Focusing on local, national, and global environmental issues and concepts, each unit addresses the flow of matter, energy, information, and even finances throughout the natural world. The course also highlights the influence of human societies and cultures on environmental issues, and how environmental issues are handled differently around the globe due to differences in culture.
Given the nature of this course, having the students follow the expedition this summer will prove to be a highly effective way to introduce them to the "systems science" approach for studying the environment. The research team and I will be utilizing scientific knowledge and skills from across the spectrum of natural sciences, will be working with an international team of scientists coming from various cultural backgrounds, and will be conducting the entire project on grant funding from the National Science Foundation. In all reality, I cannot think of a better way than this PolarTREC Expedition to introduce my students to the main themes of the IBESS course.
2013-2014 IB Environmental Systems students connecting with Dr. Iverson about the expedition to Mulajokull this summer. For many of them, this was their first time interacting with a real scientist.
To get the students excited about following along, Dr. Iverson and I scheduled a Skype call with them at the start of the technology training session! We gave a general overview of the research being done, its value for the scientific community, Dr. Iverson's background as a scientist, and just some fun facts and information about our remote field site in the glacial fore field. Students asked great questions about data collection techniques, our camping logistics, and found it pretty funny (and gross...) that we will not be able to shower for over two weeks while we are in the field! Good thing that the next time that they see us will be digitally and free of odor!
After the Skype call, I trained students on how to post questions to the Ask the Team Forum, how to access my daily journal entries, and reviewed logistics for our PolarConnect Event at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library on August 7th.
All in all, it feels great to get the ball rolling with the students for this summer and I look forward to staying connected with them from the glacier!