University of Victoria featured on p. 40
Author: Stephanie
UNITAR- Update
Primary Educators Use of BioBlitzes to Develop Capacity
Project Title: Exploring Primary Educator Use of BioBlitz to Develop Capacity
A BioBlitz is a focused concentration on a specific location through photographs. Educators use BioBlitzes to explore different capacity building and curricular needs for students, and in doing so, connect students to their community and nature in their environment. Currently, the National Geographic organization (https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/bioblitz/) has designed lessons and activities for students in Grade 4 and older. This research acknowledges and appreciates educators use of BioBlitzes at all grade levels, a focus on primary grades, and the potential to develop capacity is stated.
Researcher Identity
Name of Principal Researcher: Dr. Stephanie Ann Sadownik
Email of Researcher: stephanie.sadownik@utoronto.ca or stephanie.sadownik@yrdsb.ca
Purpose and Use of the Research
The objectives of the study are to explore how primary educators use BioBlitzes to develop capacity. To achieve this objective the study is designed to introduce the activity with a short video discussing a BioBlitz that school principals can introduce to teachers through a staff meeting or professional development activity.
The recorded video is posted a YouTube account and can be reviewed here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UAlt8T5R2E&feature=youtu.be
A survey link is provided for primary educators to document a plan for how to use a BioBlitz following the video introduction and brainstorm with their subject/grade level teaching team/group. https://forms.gle/u3ZqnRShLEWj5SKM9
Following the activity, a survey link is provided for primary educators to share how the planned BioBlitz activity.
https://forms.gle/eSh3Ho6crwDzntJ76
Theoretical Framework
Piaget’s concept of pre-operational children ages 2-7 are the basis of this study. In particular, this study considers the role of the primary educator in developing capacity and alignment with reality in the areas of: egocentrism; concepts of time and space; transductive thinking; animistic views of the world; causality and pseudolearning.
Egocentrism, as noted by Piaget, suggests that pre-operational students believe that their perception and view of the world is the same as everyone else. Compared to the sensorimotor stage, a pre-operational student is capable of thinking of the present, past and future in short periods while the concept of space now includes community features found in their existing neighborhood, home and outside yard (Bybee & Sund, 1990).
Transductive thinking occurs when pre-operational children reason from particular to particular (Bybee & Sund, 1990). Piaget notes that the pre-operational student believes causal relationships occur when some things occur together (i.e. A causes B and B causes A) (Bybee & Sund, 1990). Bybee and Sund (1990) posit that students in the pre-operational stage may attribute human characteristics to plants and animals through their animistic view of the world. Animistic views of the world consider all objects and events to be made or caused by humans (p. 77).
Pseudolearning, Bybee and Sund (1990) suggest, can fool educators and parents when a pre-operational student is capable of parroting information back immediately after being told a realistic explanation. Therefore, Bybee and Sund (1990) suggest an educator’s role is to improve these explanations for why things occur through an alignment with reality (p. 78). Pointing to Piaget, Bybee and Sund (1990) suggest this alignment cannot be achieved without a real change of mental awareness and note educators are ideally placed and have the ability to remedy this through social interaction and experience (p. 77).
Bybee, R. W., & Sund, R. B. (1990). Piaget for educators.
Appendix A- Informed Consent
This study is listed under the University of Toronto ethics protocol # 45197.
If you have any concerns or complaints about your rights as a research participant and/or your experiences while participating in this study, you may contact the
Research Oversight and Compliance Office – Human Research
Ethics Unit (ethics.review@utoronto.ca, 416-946-3273).
Please keep this form for your records, a link to a pdf version that can be downloaded is provided .
2Exploring-Primary-Educators-Reflections-After-Developing-Capacity-Through-the-Use-of-a-BioBlitzDownload
Water Restrictions Around Canada
Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act
Alberta Sovereignty Act, is an act introduced on November 29, 2022. “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that while he’s “not looking for a fight” with Alberta, the federal government is not taking anything off the table when it comes to how it may respond to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s new ‘sovereignty act.'” Rebecca Schulz was sworn in as Minister of Environment and Protected Areas on June 9, 2023.
Rebecca states Alberta is not above calling the Sovereignty Act related to Net Zero demands. Sovereign to Canada is Sovereign to UN, UNESCO, UNITAR…sovereign to United Kingdom? BATUS? How does that impact the Canadian Forces Base, Suffield ?
https://www.canada.ca/en/army/corporate/3-canadian-division/canadian-forces-base-suffield.html
Is there an eighth psychological barrier? If you are new to Climate Action there might be….
As a meat eater who is challenged for clarity by recycling signs on campus, I am not the first person that comes to your mind when you think of consultants for Climate Action and Change, but therein lies the genius.
I am the person researchers are attempting to change. I am the person they are attempting to encourage to eat more plant-based diets, or to choose dark green leafy vegetables like kale. I am encouraged to buy a small carbon compost, plant a veggie or herb…..and I consistently do work in Climate Action and enjoy a steak on the BBQ. My work has involved what I require to change these habits and how similar that may be to others who eat meat like me.
However, what has really stood out for me over the past few months is how individuals involved in Climate Action for decades scoff at me as a researcher in this area. Can the eighth psychological barrier to Climate Action involve the notoriety that others received for their tireless efforts over sustained amounts of time and how challenging these people may find it for new people to step into the spotlight for their work?
As a teacher of over 25 years, this is a common scenario in the staff room as seasoned teachers who have worked tirelessly on lessons sit and listen to a principal award a new teacher with praise for work that others feel goes unnoticed by them.
My favourite discovery about cultured meat and resistance to Climate Action noted by academic literature was the consensus that vegans and vegetarians are not who researchers are trying to change. The focus is on meat eaters.
My other perspective is sports. Rarely is a team known for their star recruit, rather it is a new player joining an established team of talented individuals. This parallels university and academia where the experts still are containers of enigmatic knowledge and truly irreplaceable. As a coach/facilitator/leader how do you celebrate new and honour past, respect wisdom and recruit fresh eyes? How do we convince our experts that innovation is a deviation (Frank Zappa) from their work sometimes or a shift in focus?
Interpretive flexibility operationally defined considers the intended use or interpretation of technology and how it is used. It can be applied to problem solving and notes that it is difficult to obtain flexibility if others have already been told what to see or how to think (Rorschach test). Education models this through open ended questioning techniques. In contrast, medicine decision making models are closed, binary questions that lead you down a tree to the one correct answer.
Dr Kibeom Lee with University of Calgary, one of the founders of HEXACO personality model, suggests H- Humility is a factor to consider with Climate Action.
Lemony Basil
e-Cooking video for Sustainable Gastronomy July 30 2023
My Backyard Farm Project
@MyBackyardFarmProject
Check out more great recipes here
and more Sustainable Cooking videos here
Fermentation: The New Game-Changer For Alternative Proteins?
“Combining various fermentation techniques with modern technology is enabling biotech companies to create proteins that rival those in animal products. And they are poised to seriously challenge the industrial meat, egg, and dairy industries.”
GFI’s 2020 Symposium on Fermentation: Fermentation as the Ultimate Sustainability Solution
- Try the Food Challenge # 1-Fermentation
Good Food Institute
“What does it actually look like to start an alternative protein company? In this blog, our Corporate Engagement team takes you through the tremendous number of resources GFI has available for emerging alt protein companies. You can also learn more about how to apply for this year’s Pitch Slam at the Good Food Conference in September. Learn more here.”
The State of Global Policy on Alternative Proteins
Powering Plant based
Building the future of cultivated
Providing Infrastructure
Notable newcomers
All eyes on
Canada
Download these other reports here:
https://gfi.org/resource/plant-based-meat-eggs-and-dairy-state-of-the-industry-report/
https://gfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2022-Cultivated-Meat-State-of-the-Industry-Report-2-1.pdf
https://gfi.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/State-of-the-Industry-Report-Fermentation-2022.pdf
https://gfi.org/resource/alternative-protein-company-database/
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Strategic Plan for Science – agriculture.canada.ca
Agricultural science will play a significant role in supporting Canada’s contribution to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, especially the goal of zero hunger.
It will also contribute to the greenhouse gas emission reductions required under the Paris Accord. This forward-looking science agenda will equip AAFC to address the needs of today and help the agriculture sector prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.
Visit the research projects to view research in your area: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Strategic Plan for Science and Current Research by Province
