2013-14 School In-Service Training Grants (9-12) Recipient

Island Biography-The Mathematics and science of Species Diversity

I would like to have author and doctoral candidate, Jana Eggleston (or one of her coauthors), of "Measuring the Health of the Earth Using the Theory of Island Biography" to come to Alonzo Crim High School and conduct a workshop on the interdisciplinary subject matter of "species diversity and their natural communities". This fascinating subject matter was presented during the NCTM conference in Denver, Colorado and falls in line with our school's Global Exposure initiatives as well as my professional goal of becoming a "Global Competent Mathematics Context Expert"… This workshop is geared towards mathematics and science teachers. The objective would be for math and science teachers to produce engaging and authentic interdisciplinary standards based assignments that would create an ecological awareness for students. I have personally set out to create authentic projects to challenge our student's global awareness and not only does their study align philosophically, but the assignments they created are aligned with the Mathematics and Science Common Core Standards. Although their title references "Islands" and Atlanta is an inland city, the study itself pertains to the need for biodiversity of species in their natural communities in order to attain sustainability and the barriers (mountains, sea, desert, buildings, etc.) that isolate and/or endangers those species. This study even stretches into the need for economic diversity for economies to be sustainable. The needs for the grant include: Travel, lodging, meals for presenter, supplies for teachers, a honorarium for the presenter, and pay for any substitutes needed.