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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 230 435 SE 041 933 AUTHOR Peterson, Bruce; Sullivan, Mary Jane TITLE Field Application of Ecological Principles for Physically Handicapped High School Students. Final Report. INSTITUTION Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale. SPONS AGENCY National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. PUB DATE Dec 82 GRANT SPI-8104911 NOTE 203p. PUB TYPE Reports - Descriptive (141) Reports Evaluative/Feasibility (142) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC09 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Curriculum Development; *Disabilities; *Ecology; *Environmental Education; High Schools; Program Descriptions; *Program Evaluation; Residential Programs; *Science Activities; Science Education; Science Instruction; Secondary School Science; *Summer Science Programs IDENTIFIERS National Science Foundation ABSTRACT A residential instructional program was developed which provided two 2-week institutes for handicapped students during the summer of 1982. Recognizing that most of these students are mainstreamed and do not take scienca laboratory courses, the program focused heavily on the outdoor laboratory setting at.an environmental center. In Addition,.mindful of the attitudinal, informational, and communicative barriers experiences by these youngsters, a curriculum was chosen which minimized these barriers as much as could be practicable. THe program was designed to give students optimal exposure to concrete examples of theory while minimizing the amount of time spent in lecture and textbook study. This document discusses: (1) program philosophy/objectives, participant selection, and instructional staff/counseloi. training; (2) the curriculum and specialized adaptations; (3) the recreational program; (4) evaluation (including pre-/post-test and student/staff evaluation); (5) assessment of outcomes; and (6) dissemination efforts. Provided in the curriculum section are lecture/film outlines, abstracts of environmental/ecological activities used, with complete copies of selected activities (including grade level(s), goals, concepts/skills fostered, behavioral objectives, background information, and instructional strategies). Supporting documentation (inCluding pre/post tests, staff evaluation forms, and handouts distributed at inservice workshops) is included in appendixes. Evaluation results indicate that the program was successful in meeting its objectives. (JN) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION f DULATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER tERIC I 1T tii,',, LI, vrIt h,1`.twer,reprudia, eqat, rt,,,1 fro, VI,oerr,orlor orjantzatori MIN, , h irl,;,.., h iv, L,Pil rt, irl, tC) Impro,f rtilrorl, 'to, qL,i,r), Piiits, it ,t,w, Or op1111,11S stated it this duct, rfwnt 10 ccjt rcpre,cnt official NIE Division of posfion or pollk.y ContinuingEducation 1.11 reN CD Pt\ 041 C3 1111111111111111111111111111111111 "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY I / TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Final Report to the National Science Foundation Field Application of Ecological Principles for Physically Handicapped High School Students Conducted at Touch of Nature Environmental Center Southern Illinois University at Carbondale Carbondale, Illinois Project Co-Directors Dr, Bruce Petersen DT. Mary Jane Sullivan Acknowledgements The co-directors wish to acknowledge theexcellent cooperation which they received from both the Touch ofNature Environmerital Workshop staff and the counselor-aides throughoutthe course of the four-week field activities. In addition, they would like to thankRuth Alliband and her staff for theirsecretahial support and James Lipe and his staff, and Ray Graesser and his staff withoutwhom our stay at the Environmental Center would not have been as pleasant. We would also like to acknowledge the cooperation which we received from the SIUC Pollution Control Center. Dr. John Meister graciously opened the center to.our students for a presentation by SIUC students working in the center, Jim Muller, Chris Jensen, Janet Kronwell and Karen Lyman. This report is a result of a project funded by the National Science Foundation under grant # SPI 8104911 Photographers:Michael Skinner, Robert Marsh, and Paul Lorenz Typist: Siriluck iThaha Si Table of Contents I. Introduction A. Philosophy and Objectives of Program . , . 1 B. Pdrticipants 3 C. Instructional Staff and Counselors 14 II. Curriculum A. Academics 21 B. Specialized Adaptations 105 III. Recreational Program 109 IV. Evaluation A. Pre-test 117 Post-test B. Student Evaluation 118 C. Staff Evaluation 125 V. Assessment of Outcomes 131 VI. Dissemination Efforts 133 List of Tables Table I 22 Table II 23 Table III 119 Table IV 121 Table V 123 Table VI 126 Table VII 126 Table VIII 127 Table IX 127 6 Table X 128 Table XI 129 Table XII 129 Table XIII 130 Table XIV 134 List of Appendices Appendix I Touch of Nature Brochure Appendix II Samples of Promotional Materials Appendix III Schedule for Summer Institute Appendix IV Pre and Post Test Appendix V Staff Evaluation Appendix VI Handouts at Inservice Workshops a. Textbook References b. (Classroom Management c. Energy Flow Exercise d. Food Chain Exercise e. Bibliography I. INTRODUCTION A. Philosophy and, Objectives of Program The purpose of this project, "Field Application of Ecological Princi- ples for Physically Handicapped High School Students," was to provide two two-week institutes for handicapped high school students during the summer of 1982. Recognizing the fact that most students with low-incidence handicap- ping conditions are mainstreamed into regular classrooms and that most of these students do not take science 14) courses, the project directors designed a science program which focused heavily upon the outdoor labora- tory. Mindful of the attitudinal, informational, environmental and communi., cative barriers experienced by handicapped youngsters, a curriculum was chosen which would minimize these barriers as much ascouldbe practicable. The program was designed to give students optimal exposure to concrete examples of theory while minimizing the amount of time spent in lecture and with a textbook. There were five major goals of the academic curriculum. Goal 1 To introduce handicapped high school students to the ecolo- gical concepts associated with limnology and terrestrial biology. Goal 2 To give handicapped students an opportunity to apply these concepts in direct laboratory and field experiences. Goal 3 -'To develop self confidence in these studepts inthe area of s c. experimental science. Coal 4 To develop a spnsitivity on the part of these students to the societal impact and value issues related to environmentalplanning. Goal 5 To serve as a model to regional school systems for methods of adapting science curriculum to the special needs of the handicapped. The Touch of Nature Envirbnmental Center served as the site for the residential instructional program. This facility was an excellent base for this program. (See Appendix I) For many years the Center has main- tained programs in environmental education for advanced high school 'students and recreational programs for the handicapped.The project sponsored by the National Science Foundation was the first time that the two activities were united in a carefully developed program. To achieve the five major goals of the project a plan of work with appropriate activities was outlined and refined. The committee which developed this curriculum was composed of Dr. Bruce Petersen, Gerald Culen, George Davis, and Dr. Mary Jane Sullivan. The work plan Qr. schedule of activities was developed around the following ecological principles. A. Individuals and populations B. Interactions and interdependence C. Environmental influences and limiting factors D. Energy flow and materials cycling (biogeochemical cycling) E. The community and ecosystem concepts F. Homeostasis G. Succession H. Man as an ecosystem component I. The ecological implications of man's activities and his communities 9 B. Participants Recruitment of Students Upon receiving word of the receipt of thegrant from the National Science Foundation, the project co-directorsforwarded a letter to selected agencies for the handicapped in thestate notifying them of the program and requesting assistance in recruitingstudents. Copies of this letter, other recruitment correspondence andthe printed brochure for the program may be found in Aptiendix. The only response to this ihitial request came from the office of the Superintendent of the IllinoisSchool for the Visually Handicapped who recommended that we send the information to the following sOools: Mr. Duward A. Hutchinson, Supt. Ms. Gail'Sullivan Fleig Indiana School for the Blind Special Education Media 7725 C011ege Avenuw,. Specialist Indiannpolis, Indiana 46240 Iowa Dept. of Public Instruc- tion Mr. Gilbert Bliton Grimes State Office Building Educational Consultant Des Moines, Iowa 50319 Division of Special Education Indiana State Department of Dr. Hugh A. Pace, Superintendent Publit Instruction Kansas State School for the 229 State House Visually Handicapped Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 1100 State Avenue Kansas City, Kansas 66102 Sliss Gloria Calovini, Director Educational Meclia and Mr. Harold L. Hodges Laformation Services Education Program Specialist Illinois State Board of Education