Final Blog Reviews

Explore Alaska!
receives

My Best Teacher

Award

I am Fran's fan!

Everyone can find teachers who can communicate in a way where the information they deliver connects with you individually. I know that with my distractibility, it is more difficult for me to connect and retain information when I have to jump back and forth looking for things. Actually, this class did expand my ability to do so. However, when I wasn't sure what I needed to get from any of the particular modules, I would read Explore Alaska! She summarized the information into a easy to read and understand fashion. I wish I would have started reading her blog regularly from the beginning.

Fran also shared pertinent information about villages that are being forced to make relocation choices. The links that were provided to show the impact of those areas were sad. Her discussion about the fact that western scientists and engineers came and put in thermosyphons to keep the ground frozen. The Native individuals who had the Native way of knowing didn't think it would be enough. The Natives were right.

I really liked some of the comparisons and thoughts that Fran shared. In one, she said that thermohaline circulation or ocean conveyor belt was like a cardiovascular system since it was Mother Earth we were talking about. I also enjoyed her reference to a verse in the song Circle of Life with states, "You should never take more than you give." Last but not least, was the connection Fran made between microbes like snow algae being necessary for the existence of ice worms. I have always wondered about ice worms. They Portage Glacier Visitor Center had a display that showed along time ago that I saw as a kid. Fran has had the wonderful experience of seeing them first hand.

GEO Integrations

by Jennifer

Award for Best Links, Websites, Photos and Experiences

As I read through Jennifer's blog, I could tell that not only did she understand the information, but she knew it well enough to connect to her experiences and previous research. She has been some great places, doing some great western science research.

Some of the links that I explored were: Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears, Take Aim at Climate Change, Antarctic Sun, Arctic Stories and Alaska Natural Resource and Outdoor Education. Jennifer has had some great experience with kids and science. Since my focus as an intensive needs resource teacher has often been reading and math, which make all other topic of interest or study possible to understand. Many of the links that Jennifer provided will be helpful to dabble in science with my fourth and fifth graders with disabilities.

I am left with two specific paragraphs that make a lot of sense that I will read more in the future. The first, "While there may be confusion and differing perspectives on what the date means - I don't think there is any question that we have a responsibility to care and make decisions grounded in thinking of the future based on the evidence of climate change." And second, "As teachers, community members, parents and citizens, I would like to think we could agree on decisions that make our planet a better place for our grandchildren... or at least one that takes human impact into account. Even with doubts and skepticism and the politics of climate change, it seems ridiculous to deter the progressive inventions of better technology in alternative methods of energy. I now understand or at least accept that new laws, government regulations and licensing has to be a part of the bigger international plan, since humans have to be protected from their own greed." Her last comment was cute, "Yikes - I'm starting to sound like my Father!"