School News

Teacher turns ‘explorer’, holds class via Internet

Columbus High School's Mary McCullagh travels to Maryland for ‘Earthwatch Expedition’

Friday, December 18, 2009
Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic

COURTESY PHOTO Christopher Columbus High School teacher Mary McCullagh, left, speaks with researcher Nancy Kahn of the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland.

MIAMI — For five days this month, Mary T. McCullagh taught via a blog and the Internet.

The history and government teacher at Christopher Columbus High School spent a week at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Md., as part of an educator fellowship sponsored by HSBC in the Community.

McCullagh used satellite and Internet technology to connect “live from the field” to her classroom.

She joined Earthwatch Institute’s Climate Change and Fragmented Forests expedition as a member of a research team consisting of scientists and teacher volunteers. Their goal was to investigate the effects of climate change on forests and their ecosystems.

COURTESY PHOTO Christopher Columbus High School teacher Mary McCullagh, right, "maps trees" during her stint at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland.

The research team was led by principal inve stigator Geoffrey ‘Jess’ Parker of the Forest Ecology lab at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. The teachers took tree measurements, examined leaf material and observed the forest’s wildlife population.

McCullagh returned to her classroom with many new experiences to share with her students.

“The Earthwatch expedition was extraordinary,” she said. “The Internet and Web blog allowed me to involve the students in my daily experiences with commentary, photos and video. Along with important inquiry and research skills, they benefited from the 21st century skills of video-conferencing, collaboration and Internet investigation. The students enjoyed the live Web video conference with permanent researcher Nancy Kahn.”

In addition to this fellowship experience, HSBC in the Community will provide a $250 grant to implement a community conservation project designed by McCullagh and her students to further engage them in their classroom and in their community. The students in McCullagh’s advanced placement European history class and Sandy Valdes’ advanced placement environmental course will begin devising the project in the new year.

Earthwatch’s mission is to engage people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. No previous research experience is necessary to participate in its field research opportunities and there are hundreds of expeditions worldwide that need volunteer support.

Visit www.earthwatch.org or call 800-776-0188 for more information. Students and teachers can still see McCullagh’s expedition adventure on the “Live from the Field” Web site at http://www.earthwatch2.org/LFF/McCullagh/