WORKING WITH STUDENTS ON MONITORING PROJECTS Laura Kelm Director of Water Quality Programs NJ Confluence November 13, 2015
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WORKING WITH STUDENTS ON MONITORING PROJECTS
Laura KelmDirector of Water Quality Programs
NJ ConfluenceNovember 13, 2015
Why Work with Students?
• Many hands make light work• Field trips can meet two goals at
once - education, data collection• Connections to school - location,
relationship with educator/school• Foster environmental stewards• And more!
• Environmental interest• Varies from casual to potential future career
• Learn about local environment/community• Looks good on college applications/resume• Community service hours• Field trip• Fun!
Why Students Work With Us
How GSWA Works with Students
• Interns – high school, college students• Educational programs• K - 8th grade: strictly educational• 9th grade – college: SWaMP• School Water Monitoring on the Passaic
SWaMP Program Basics
• Involves students in hands-on water monitoring along the Passaic River and its tributaries
• Chemical, visual, biological monitoring• Data entered into mapping website – goal: data use!
• Data accuracy• Depends on student motivations, training,
attention to detail• 8th graders vs. college students
• Safety concerns• Field work – walking in streams, ticks, etc.• Test materials• Protective equipment
• Site Access• Others?
Some Challenges of Working with Students
• Preventative action depends on situation, including age and ability of students• Site access• Wadable or unwadable• Appropriate test methods
Addressing Safety Concerns
Addressing Accuracy Concerns
• Have written procedures!– Project leaders should read and supervise
students to ensure adherence• Include info on what, how, when
– Make sure students read and follow any included directions• Supervision or auditing
Data Use Matters!
• What are you using the data for?• What level of data accuracy is needed?• Submitting to DEP vs. screening for problem vs.
educational use• Parameters, methods, training depend on this
• Study design - session later today!
• Kits with tablets• Safe, easy to use
• Multi-step kits• More complex – many steps to mess up• More accurate
• pH paper• Tricky to read
• Meters/probes• Need calibration?• Durable for student use?
Water Chemistry Methods
• Basic scientific skills• Reading a liquid measurement from the
bottom of the meniscus• How many decimal places to record• Appropriate estimating
Training:Water Chemistry
Training: Macroinvertebrates
• How long to disturb bottom?• Sample size• Mayfly or stonefly?• Increase accuracy by verifying
identification
• Working with students is not about getting free, skilled labor• Students should also benefit• How?• How do we make it stick long-term?
Then What?
In Review
• Rewarding working with students• Be aware of potential challenges• Plan to deal with challenges before they arise
Questions?
Laura KelmDirector of Water Quality ProgramsGreat Swamp Watershed [email protected], ext. 16
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