My name is Rachel Searle-White. I am a member of the Hiram College Class of 2012 and am currently enrolled in Biology 101: Field Biology taught by Professor Dennis Taylor. Our course focuses primarily on the issues surrounding water conservation. We are in a unique position to do our studies because we are located in a remarkable watershed.
What is a watershed?
A watershed is classified as an area where all water that flows through it or falls upon it goes to the same place.
Course Components
The course is designed to be a study in learning styles as much as a study of the importance of water and wetlands. Components include an emphasis on group work and on hands-on work in the surrounding area, observing and learning more about the world by being in it. Importance is also given to learning to work with electronic media such as Google Docs and this website, because this is the way that many people communicate nowadays.
Course Activities
Our course is still in its early stages, but thus far our activities have included:
-Fieldwork, such as the ORAM (Ohio Rapid Assessment Method) on wetlands and QHEI (Qualitative Evaluation Habitat Index) on streams. These are done singly and in groups.
-Group work in general; meant to foster leadership and subordinate working abilities (and have them be shared equally throughout the group)
-Creating webpages about the importance of caring for the environment, including this one and one for our final project
-Using Google Docs to communicate between groups and share knowledge with the entire class, as well as turn in assignments
-Community service projects designed to get us involved in the community and to help us learn about watersheds and what we can do to help them
Skills Developed
-Ability to work collaboratively online (with Google Docs, this website, and others)
-An ecological view of the world
-Group work skills
About the Author
As stated before, my name is Rachel Searle-White. I am a Theatre Arts major at Hiram College. I do not have a definite idea of my career path as of yet, but I know that I enjoy teaching and working with people of all ages. I hope to be able to use that love to teach people to love the world we live in as much as I do.
My Watershed Connection
As a full-time student at Hiram College, I am intimately connected to the watershed here, although I do not have as much control over its treatment as I would like. In my own small ways I try to conserve water and teach others to do the same, although I am not in a position of power by any means.