Through collaboration, diverse
science faculty, from 9 regional colleges representing five Appalachian states
in the Appalachian College Association (ACA) consortium are strengthening their
science curricula using teaching and learning experiences in locally delineated
small watersheds. The participating faculty and colleges are: a.) creating a
research - rich field learning environment, b.) infusing the small watershed
approach methods into our curricula, c.) improving our laboratory
instrumentation, d.) implementing collaborative, cross-site student research
projects, d.) participating in faculty development workshops, e.) developing an
Online Lab Manual for Small Watershed Studies, and f.) working with the
elementary school students to help them understand the connections in our
environment. Students are encouraged to conduct field study projects of their
own design as part of a formal class, as an independent study or a senior
thesis. Non-science majors and first year students are involved in inquiry-based
exercises in the watersheds in lower level class projects. The students are
part of a common research project across our watershed sites each semester and
during the summer. The data for these common watershed studies is shared online
from each of our web sites. Faculty development workshops encouraging the
effective use of watershed research and the Online Lab Manual are held each
semester (3 workshops). A culmination of this project is a “Student Research
Symposium”. The symposium included original student research projects arising
from techniques available in our Online Lab Manual and used in lab courses. An
Online Laboratory Manual for Small Watershed Studies (eManual) is being
developed for faculty at all institutions to use in their biology, chemistry,
forestry, geology and/or other science courses at their institutions.