Tropical Environmental Education using Geospatial Technologies

I lead the external evaluation of Crossing Boundaries, a three-year program using geospatial technologies to explore biodiversity conservation in the tropics and in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.

Sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) ITEST program, sixty secondary teachers and 2,000 students use a range of information and communication technologies to interact with scientists doing bio-diversity research in Brazil, Mexico and Kenya.

Teachers develop pedagogy and technology skills through summer institutes and online classes. Students use project-based learning to gain communication and technology career skills, and use web-mediated communications to interact with scientists and collaborate with peers.