"The greatest question you can ask is WHY." This quote, pasted to the wall of the Amazon Conservatory for Tropical Studies field station, drives so much of what we do in the Amazon. It keeps us honest as educators, researchers, facilitators, and learners. It is simple and profound. Three simple letters - w.h.y. - packed with so much power. For us, questions like this open the door to the universe - be it in a drop of water on the tip of a tropical leaf, the incredible camouflage of an Amazon katydid, or pondering how to engage participants in meaningful investigations of the Amazon.
Asking questions primes the pump of curiosity and being curious is what drives inquiry-based learning...and if there ever was a place that can ignite curiosity and inspire inquiry it is the Amazon! This issue of Amazon Explorer is dedicated to all the "inquiring minds" that relish in exploring and understanding their world! |
 The Epic Orchid Bee Quest of 2012
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Inquiry in the Amazon
In the Amazon I.N.Q.U.I.R.Y. is all about:
- active INVOLVEMENT in the learning process via field studies and hands-on research projects.
- constructing NEW KNOWLEDGE through personal encounters with the complex rainforest ecosystem.
- uncovering new QUESTIONS behind each tree, under each leaf, and around each river bend.
- seeking deeper UNDERSTANDING of your role in a sustainable future for the rainforest.
- developing an INQUISTIVE world view that opens the door to global understanding.
- realizing solving RIGOUROUS scientifiv problems is fun and you can participate as a citizen scientist.
- discovering YOURSELF as a learner as you stretch beyond your normal comfort zone.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: What does I.N.Q.U.I.R.Y mean to you? How do you use inquiry to ignite curiosity? What makes you curious about the Amazon? Visit our blog and leave a reply! |
Amazon Apprentices: Mentoring Inquiry in the Canopy
What do one tropical canopy researcher, a Minnesota teacher, and a bunch of teenagers have in common? On the surface, not much. But dig a bit deeper, or rather climb a bit higher, and you will find a shared passion for exploring and understanding the intricacies of the Amazon rainforest canopy!
Researcher, Dr. Meg Lowman, and high school teacher, DC Randle, have joined forces to mentor the next generation of rainforest researchers and in the process are transforming the lives of Minnesota high school students. Many of DC's student have traveled with him to the Amazon and with the help of Meg, they have engaged in all sorts of inquiry based projects including herbivory (plant and animal feeding interactions) assessments, long term plant studies (leaf tagging), bromeliad and epiphyte studies, and more! DC has given his students the opportunity to become apprentices to a top scientist like Meg and engage in authentic inquiry as they participate in important research in tropical ecology and biology.
It all began when Meg and DC met deep in the neotropical rainforest...read more and watch a video..» |
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What does I.N.Q.U.I.R.Y mean to you? How do you use inquiry to ignite curiosity? What makes you curious about the Amazon? When was the last time you felt like a scientist? Join the conversation and post your repsonses on our Blog - Field Notes from the Amazon!
We hope you've enjoyed this issue of Amazon Explorer. We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Let us know how we can make future editions of Amazon Explorer even better.
Sincerely,
Amazon Rainforest Workshops Team
© 2012 Environmental Expeditions |
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BREAKING NEWS!
Registration Now Open for 2013 Educator Academy in the Amazon
Take your professional development to a whole new level - out of the classroom and into the jungle. Join us in Peru and investigate the Amazon rainforest using best practice 21st century instructional models such as inquiry- based exploration, STEM education, sustainability science, and more. Return to your classroom with a new set of skills and tools that will enrich your teaching and deepen student understanding.
Scholarships available!
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Looking for an inquiry expedition for your Students? Why not the Amazon?
Be a an inquiry mentor and share the magic of the Amazon with your students. As a teacher leader you can jump start their passion for learning and discovery.
With just 10 students your travel expenses are covered.
Visit our webiste to learn more about our
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Quick Links to Inquiry Resources & Orchid Bee Info
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