School participates in distance learning with the JASON project

 

By Robin D’Angelo            

C & G Staff Writer

     It may be cold and snowy in Michigan, but Harper Woods seventh-graders are immersed in the balmy winter of the Louisiana bayous.

     The seventh-graders, taught by June Teisan, are joining other students across the nation in participating in the JASON Project. This marks the fifth year Harper Woods students have participated in the program, which Teisan helped bring to the district.

     “The students are studying why the Louisiana wetlands are disappearing, and how to solve this problem and why it’s important to do so,” Teisan said.

     “In addition to the science, the JASON Project incorporates math, language arts and social studies — in that the language arts classes are reading literature about the bayous, and social studies classes learn about how the wetlands affect the Cajun culture.”

     Founded in 1989 by Dr. Robert Ballard, the JASON Project allows students to participate in real multidisciplinary research directed by leading scientists, and provides an opportunity to extend the math and science learning across the curriculum.  Named in the spirit of Greek myths hero Jason and the Argonauts, its mission is to inspire a life-long passion for learning in science, math and technology through hands-on experiments and research.

     Students are given a password to access the learning programs on the JASON Project Web site at www.jasonproject.org, and work in the digital “labs” that simulate bayou life. 

     “They’ve learned about how the ocean is creeping up into the wetlands because of the channelization of the Misssissippi River, and that when those wetlands disappear, how it also takes away our natural hurricane barrier,” Teisan said.

     “It’s a project that’s very rich in technology, and the students really enjoy it.”

     To culminate the month-long experiment, all 95 students in the seventh-grade will travel to Lamphere High School in Madison Heights on Feb. 3 to watch a live broadcast of JASON Project scientists working in the wetlands and conducting experiments involving wetland wildlife, soil and water quality.

     “A major challenge in education is connecting the curriculum, and teaching students that life isn’t compartmentalized,” Teisan said.

     “The JASON Project takes something like the wetlands and helps us show how they impact homes, culture and health.”

     Student Adriana Avila said she finds the JASON Project very interesting.

     “We’ve learned about amphibians and marshes, and how the Mississippi River flows,” Avila said.

     “It’s a new experience for me, because I’ve never studied anything like this before. It’s really cool.”

     Classmate Shanice Moor agreed, as she tried to capture tadpoles on the simulated lab.

     “It’s really fun. Capturing the tadpoles is the best part,” she said.

     You can reach Robin D’Angelo at rdangelo@candgnews.com