Awareness through Adventure

Module II Essential Questions: How does knowledge of natural systems relate to the roles of educators? The roles of educators are to facilitate learning and build life long learners in their students. Knowledge is power. When students become aware of their surroundings and the world they live in and that they are an active part of it, they become more responsible and make educated decisions concerning their carbon foot print. Educators have the best opportunity to make lasting impressions on the students they teach and mentor. An Elementary teacher could engage students in a recycling project. Many Elementary students in Fairbanks have the opportunity to participate in a gardening program at their schools.,http://www.calypsofarm.org/default.html. High School and College educators have many opportunities to bring awareness of natural systems to their captivated audience of young minds. We all contribute to the wellness or the destruction of our world we live in. Our Earth is fragile and it is only a matter of time until the damage that is being done becomes irreversible. Examine: How does permafrost changes affect topography? One of the first things that people told me after moving to Fairbanks was: "Don't buy a house that is built on permafrost." They pointed out a few homes and what the results are over many years of the thawing and freezing permafrost does to a home. I have heard stories of homes literally falling apart due to the constant shifting of the ground. Chena Hot Springs Road that goes to Chena Hot Springs is uneven with many heaves due to permafrost. Fairbanks has many bike trails in the area. The bike trails are also uneven in many areas which is due the terrain and some permafrost activity. Black spruce trees grow on areas of permafrost. They are stunted and sparse. Another place where permafrost is evident in the Fairbanks area is at Creamer's Field. A walking trail is built through the Boreal Forrest. The link provided explains the changes that occur in topography due to permafrost. http://alaska.fws.gov/fire/role/unit1/background.cfm. Hope you enjoyed the mini tour guide of Fairbanks. Evaluation: I enjoyed this Module. The diverse ways of content delivery kept me engaged. I especially enjoyed the Teacher's Domain video clips. What a useful teaching tool. I should have taken this class early when I first come up to help me understand where is the world is Alaska. We are all connected and all of our actions affect everyone on the planet. Perhaps through this class, we can all become more responsible in our efforts to decrease our carbon foot print. It may seem overwhelming when we talk about climate change and how huge it is, but if we each do our part, that is powerful and huge as well.