Linking Science with Education

Bear Trust is linking bear science with education:  we take real data from field studies on bears and distill the research into exciting, engaging, and fun lessons for students.  We want to help students develop conservation awareness through scientific inquiry.  While working through these lessons, students hone skills in science, math, critical thinking, problem-solving, communications, and conservation.

Because bears are charismatic animals entrenched in culture, bears and bear science make an ideal vehicle for getting students excited about the scientific process!

This new education progam includes two components:

The Bear Book Volume II: A compilation of engaging stories about field experiences with all 8 species of bears worldwide, written in non-technical format by 12 different bear experts.

Curriculum Guide to The Bear Book Volume II: 12 lessons that link directly to, and build upon, each chapter in The Bear Book Volume II.  Most lessons will be project-based where students have access to data on the same research bears that are discussed in the chapters.

Lessons will address specific goals outlined by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math; a US campaign to help our students become more competitive in science and math) and meet National Science Standards.

All lessons will be project-based, web-based, and free to educators and students.

Flow of Learning:  Maximizing Impact

From lesson development to implementation, our education program is designed to maximize impact by involving learning at multiple levels.  For example, BEAR SCIENTISTS will provide Bear Trust with real data from their bear studies, which Bear Trust will distill into engaging lessons for high school learners.  For lesson development, Bear Trust will work with, and guide, BIOLOGY and EDUCATION GRADUATE STUDENTS Bear Trust will pair wildlife biology students with education students to optimize skill sets from these two disciplines, for the purpose of developing ecologically-accurate, technologically-savvy lessons and tutorials that will engage and excite high school learners. Lessons will be presented to HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS using “teach the teacher” workshops and continuing education courses.  High school teachers will then teach the lessons to their HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. The final requirement for high school students will involve a “teach the student” activity where high school students will be asked to present an age-appropriate lesson to ELEMENTARY-AGED STUDENTS, using material they have learned in one of the 12 lessons.

To further increase our impact, we are collaborating with Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC), who is currently expanding with a focus on building the BEARS (Bears Education and Research Sanctuary) facility.  AWCC currently hosts 225,000 visitors annually.  The BEARS facility will provide unparalleled opportunities for education outreach using lessons that Bear Trust develops based on field research on wild bears around the world.  In addition, Bear Trust and AWCC are joining efforts to provide interface systems in the BEARS Center, with direct connections to bear researchers and studies being conducted on wild bears in real time.  In one comprehensive facility, AWCC visitors will be able to immerse themselves in, and interact with, exciting research conducted by top bear scientists around the world.   Moreover, visitors will have opportunities to view Kodiak bears and American black bears onsite (AWCC is home to animal ambassadors used for education outreach), and to learn about onsite behavioral research essential for understanding components of bear ecology.

Funding Secured and Funding Needed:

We are well on our way to making The Bear Book Volume II and Curriculum Guide a huge success.  We have a successful project template, we have 11 of the 12 authors we need for chapter development, and we have a “teach the teacher” workshop format to maximize education outreach.

To make this innovative education program a reality, we need a little financial help.

Bear Trust recently received a $10,000 grant from a generous foundation (that wishes to remain anonymous) and $5,000 from a Bear Trust Board Member to help defray the costs associated with editing and compiling the upcoming book (THANK YOU!!).

Currently, we need to secure funding to help pay for lesson development, editing, and lesson format for online delivery.

To learn more, please contact Bear Trust’s executive director:  Melissa Reynolds-Hogland 406.523.7779; melissa@beartrust.org