Teacher: Kalle Applegate Palmer
Grade & Subject: 11th Grade Biology
School: High Tech High
Oysters are a little celebrated species but these bivalve shellfish are indicator species. This means that they provide significant environmental services to the ecosystems that they reside in so that a struggling indicator species foreshadows negative ecosystem impacts in the future. There has been an escalating interest in restoration and environmental assessment using oysters with a number of local, state and federal projects. The Oyster Project is a student scientist monitoring project providing youth with direct access to the resources their community relies on and capacity building skills to measure and document the human impacts affecting them. The project bridges university and agency conducted research and scientists with high school students while the students serve as stewards of their research to community stakeholders such as recreational groups, younger students and the general public. Connecting students to the environment, educating the public and receiving professional mentorship are essential to empowering participants and fostering a sense of agency and ownership within their physical and cultural community. Capacity building within our class allows students with a scaffold to develop and investigate their own scientific research questions.
During the project, students partned with Shelter Island Basin Yacht Clubs, the Port of San Diego, San Diego State University and rotating regional experts in the academic and private sectors. Some ways students shared their learning was through Student Led Investigation of Biotic or Abiotic Factors (integrating monitoring technology), Foundational Skill Build: Ecology, Surveying, Microcomputer programming and by presenting at SDSU Coastal Marine Institute Science Fair
Teacher Reflection
This project has been incredibly successful in terms of authenticity, supportive and lasting partnerships, potential for student learning and proximity! For my next iteration, students will be choosing to research one of the recommendations from this Spring’s students
—Kalle Applegate Palmer
Student Reflection
My oyster research and poster production went very well…I did not believe I could finish it but I did! A high was getting feedback from the Port of San Diego and just getting praised for my hard work and dedication to turn in quality work.
—Dani R.
Teacher: Kalle Applegate Palmer
Grade & Subject: 11th Grade Biology
School: High Tech High
Oysters are a little celebrated species but these bivalve shellfish are indicator species. This means that they provide significant environmental services to the ecosystems that they reside in so that a struggling indicator species foreshadows negative ecosystem impacts in the future. There has been an escalating interest in restoration and environmental assessment using oysters with a number of local, state and federal projects. The Oyster Project is a student scientist monitoring project providing youth with direct access to the resources their community relies on and capacity building skills to measure and document the human impacts affecting them. The project bridges university and agency conducted research and scientists with high school students while the students serve as stewards of their research to community stakeholders such as recreational groups, younger students and the general public. Connecting students to the environment, educating the public and receiving professional mentorship are essential to empowering participants and fostering a sense of agency and ownership within their physical and cultural community. Capacity building within our class allows students with a scaffold to develop and investigate their own scientific research questions.
During the project, students partned with Shelter Island Basin Yacht Clubs, the Port of San Diego, San Diego State University and rotating regional experts in the academic and private sectors. Some ways students shared their learning was through Student Led Investigation of Biotic or Abiotic Factors (integrating monitoring technology), Foundational Skill Build: Ecology, Surveying, Microcomputer programming and by presenting at SDSU Coastal Marine Institute Science Fair
Teacher Reflection
This project has been incredibly successful in terms of authenticity, supportive and lasting partnerships, potential for student learning and proximity! For my next iteration, students will be choosing to research one of the recommendations from this Spring’s students
—Kalle Applegate Palmer
Student Reflection
My oyster research and poster production went very well…I did not believe I could finish it but I did! A high was getting feedback from the Port of San Diego and just getting praised for my hard work and dedication to turn in quality work.
—Dani R.
