Hello to all biology enthusiasts!  The iAdventure I have created can be used for grades 9-12 and would work very well with advanced biology or college prep. classes.  The primary focus of this iAdventure is to facilitate a "real world connection" between students and the natural environment of their surrounding state.  Students will ultimately have to make research driven decisions about the need for natural ecosystems and species diversity, which will be presented in the final PowerPoint project.  I believe this iAdventure will work exceptionally well as a post-reading interactive tool, when covering content such as:  ecosystems, habitat, keystone species, competition, invader species, adaptation, and species diversity.

 

Resources Needed

For this iAdventure, students must have access to internet ready computers effective connection speeds to ensure efficient manipulation of internet sources in a time sensitive manner.  I believe this quality of connection is needed when allowing time for iAdventure completion and research during class.  Furthermore, the computer workstations will need to be equipped with Microsoft PowerPoint multimedia presentation software.  This multimedia platform is an excellent tool for students to have access to for their presentations.  I would also recommend that your students use the following search engine to do the majority of their research.  It is one of the best available.

www.google.com

Additional resources, such as videos, pamphlets, and natural history information can be gathered for free by visiting your county's Conservation Agency and Natural Resource Conservation Service(NRCS).  The NRCS offices are located inside your county's USDA service center.
 
 

Assessment

Students can be properly assessed by the teacher taking an interactive role with regards to in class work time and participation in the student presentations.  The teacher should set an example by preparing well devised, relevant questions for every presentation.  In addition to monitoring the students through interaction, the teacher should also follow and prescribed Rubric and Scoring Guide.  These two assessment tools should be made available to students in the preliminary stages the iAdventure allowing them to establish goals and requirements.  If you wish to use the Rubric and Scoring Guide I have prepared, click on the link below.

RUBRIC & SCORING GUIDE

 

Creating Conclusions and Student Products

The ultimate goal of this and iAdventure is to allow students a chance at discovery and invention.  So, there needs to be a final conclusion or end product.  In my classroom, students are required to complete a PowerPoint presentation over their research and top of their findings with a recommendation to the class.  Their recommendations should be based on the following:  research, visibility, and personal opinion.  This is the lasting "real world connection" an iAdventure is aimed at creating for students.
 
 

Curriculum Standards

The Show-Me (Missouri) Standards
This iAdventure pertains to the following Show-Me standards:

GOAL 1 Students in Missouri public schools will acquire the knowledge and skills to gather, analyze and apply information and ideas. Students will demonstrate within and integrate across all content areas the ability to (2) conduct research to answer questions and evaluate information and ideas, (4) use technological tools and other resources to locate, select and organize information, and (8) organize data, information and ideas into useful forms (including charts, graphs, outlines) for analysis or presentation.

GOAL 2 Students in Missouri public schools will acquire the knowledge and skills to communicate effectively within and beyond the classroom. Students will demonstrate within and integrate across all content areas the ability to (1) plan and make written, oral and visual presentations for a variety of purposes and audiences.

GOAL 3 Students in Missouri public schools will acquire the knowledge and skills to recognize and solve problems. Students will demonstrate within and integrate across all content areas the ability to (8) assess costs, benefits and other consequences of proposed solutions.

GOAL 4 Students in Missouri public schools will acquire the knowledge and skills to make decisions and act as responsible members of society. Students will demonstrate within and integrate across all content areas the ability to (1) explain reasoning and identify information used to support decisions.

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Natural Resources Conservation Service for the insight and materials provided to help with this iAdventure.