Education

A Minnesota teacher learns about ecological phenomena in the Arctic and connects them to her students — igniting passion and curiosity.

now design lessons where students analyze real datasets, compare short-term and long-term trends, and consider how disruptions—such as wildfire or limited field access—can influence scientific conclusions.

“Science and data collection doesn’t always have to have flashy gizmos and light speed computers… Methodology, consistency, simple tools and flexible minds are gold in the field. Get out there!”

Students engaged in a productive struggle to come to terms with what data needed to be graphed before they could answer the questions.

As a native of Santa Barbara, I grew up exploring the tidepools, splashing in the waves, and kayaking the waters that are now part of the Santa Barbara Coastal-LTER. Now, thanks to the ARETs program, I am better equipped to share my knowledge about this special area with my students.