Education

I. Overview

Call, Listen, Count and Learn

One of the goals of The Owl Project is to enrich education about the natural world. Students of different learning styles and from different communities can benefit from a multidisciplinary approach to education. The Owl Project provides a globally accessible tool to bridging diverse school subjects. The Owl Project addresses the following challenges educators are facing:

A. Integrating Subjects

Integrated learning uses an interdisciplinary perspective around a theme or issue. Experience and research has proven this the best method for teaching, especially in the sciences. The brain looks for meaning in experience and searches for common patterns and connections. Traditionally, however, subjects have been taught in compartments, especially at the middle school level and beyond. Because these methods have been used over such a long period of time and are hard to change, it has been hard to apply the results of this research. The Owl Project provides a new avenue for exploring this kind of multidisciplinary education, and could help apply a new style of teaching without major preparation and monetary investment. For example ...
  • Art – designing, drawing what they see … All types of arts can be incorporated.
  • Languages – English, Spelling, Writing skills: reading, writing about the project, story-telling, reports.
  • Foreign languages – reading/writing comments from children or scientists from around the world.
  • Math – graph and map reading, counting, other calculations.
  • Computer Technology – adding to content of web, use of equipment, etc…
  • Social Studies – interaction with others, analysis of data from around the world. Relating data to their knowledge about different parts and biomes of the world.
  • Sciences – physics, biology, ecology, etc… - sound waves, habitats, effect of environment on certain species and their behavior. Predicting responses to certain changes…
Added benefits:
  • fundamental insights acquired as a result of ones’ own work become a valuable point of reference in life.
  • emphasis is on ability to learn (more important than specific body of knowledge)
  • learning happens best when all senses are utilized. This is a perfect example of how all senses can be used to maximize the learning experience.
  • Applying existing knowledge in new situations is necessary in order to function effectively in an environment of continuous change. Again, this is an opportunity to implement this…

B. High cost of / Lack of access to effective educational tools

Seeing that the Owl project would use already existing and ubiquitous technology, this would eliminate the need for expensive and out-of-reach tools for the parents, teachers or students. Moreover, because of the integrated scaffolding used, this would lend itself to self-directed or independent learning. Added benefit:
  • easy portability and relatively small size of parts.

C. Lack of effective tools in teaching kinesthetic children.

Traditional methods have long been known to favor auditory and visual learners, whereas kinesthetic children are often left struggling or even labeled hyperactive. There has been an increased awareness over the past years of the need for innovative hands-on teaching tools for kinesthetic learners. The Owl Project could be used effectively for children of all learning styles.

D. Making science appealing to all students

The world is strongly influenced by science and technology. And yet, in the school setting, many students feel intimidated by the subjects of science and technology. By using tools children are familiar with and have even learned to associate with positive activities, the preconceived ideas about these subjects will quickly disappear. Learning and doing science / technology would become part of everyday life and no longer a challenge with this new tool. Added benefit:
  • Students will effortlessly develop critical thinking – a tool needed for scientific method / research.
Furthermore, because this experiment breaks down barriers between “scientists” and the “common” people, students are more likely to see themselves as citizen-scientists.

E. Developing Global Awareness

The world is an entity where all parts are influenced and affected by one another. But in large countries such as the United States, students often see the world outside of their immediate surrounding as irrelevant or disconnected. The international aspect of this project would change this “world view” and help them experience themselves as an integral part of the world – scientific, natural, intellectual and politically. By communicating regularly and analyzing data from around the globe, their view would gradually change. In particular, in urban communities – where the natural world is often “invisible” but access to technology is ubiquitous, this awareness would begin with an appreciation of the natural environment. By “bringing the outdoors in” the Owl Project would stimulate their interest in the natural world. Added benefits:
  • encouraging self-directed study: by using the best setting for learning and “riding” on their interest in technology, the experiments are likely to encourage self-directed study.
  • building up healthy self-esteem: a sense of fulfillment which comes from the realization that they are contributing to “making history” – tangibly, almost instantaneously; making a difference in the world around them, even more valuable because they cooperate with others and experts from around the world. Example: an “installation” at a museum could make their contribution public...
  • enhanced social skills: The ability to relate with non-peers, which is often a challenge during the teen years is an issue that this tool addresses, by allowing and encouraging intergenerational collaboration. This would make the students more socially fit to work in the real world.
  • heightened awareness of their ability to affect the environment: as they become more aware of the interaction between different aspects of their natural environment, they will increasingly be aware of the impact that their everyday life decisions can have at a global level.
  • continuity: Because of the nature of this project, it lends itself to a continuous year after year progressive study, again increasing the “relevant contribution” feature.

II. Classroom Resources