Module Objectives

· To develop and implement long term, practical, experiential environmental education and research curriculum to address local Louisiana ecosystems.

· To educate students on wetland loss, ecosystems, and pollution in relation to their impact on human and wildlife populations.

· To assist students in developing an attitude of stewardship and environmental conservation toward our natural resources, starting in their own backyard.

· To develop a mathematical model of a watershed based on the data collection.

· Through the use of calculator based laboratory probes students will integrate mathematical and technological skills with science and its effect on society.

· Students will be able to develop a process for analyzing the collected bayou data.

· Students will be able to work collaboratively.

· Students will be able to find the mathematical relationships among the various biological factors.

· Students will be able to use technology in their data analysis (graphing calculator, Excel, etc.).

· Students will be able to communicate their results.

· Students will develop an understanding of the requirements for cell growth.

· Students will differentiate between selective mediums.

· Students will demonstrate the inoculation of petri dishes.

· Students will differentiate bacterial and yeast growth.

· Students will demonstrate the two methods for evaluating the bacteriologic quality of water for drinking and for recreation.

· Students will develop an understanding of pathogens.

· Students will explain the importance of indicator organisms.

· Students will distinguish between E. coli and other coliforms.

· Students will determine the differences between two of the most widely used mediums in microbiology.

· Students will demonstrate how to streak samples onto petri dishes.

Students will use a pH probe to measure the pH of a water sample.

· Students will use a conductivity probe to measure total dissolved solids, TDS.

· Students will use a dissolved oxygen probe to determine the concentration of dissolved oxygen.

· Students will use a temperature probe to measure the water temperature.

· Students will use a wide array of analytical activities, such as water sample monitoring and sample collection of macro- micro invertebrates to collect data over a long- term period for a local wetland.

Students will analyze the data to determine the relationship among the water quality factors.

· Students will calculate the water quality based on your findings.