River Journey High School Story Maps for Art-led Environmental Education Jonee Kulman Brigham Resident/Senior Research Fellow U of MN Institute on the Environment ESRI Education Summit June 26, 2016 San Diego, CA
A Call To Mapping Is there a stream of water that exists before we name it river? Is the world what we have labeled it to be? Are we? The mapmakers tell us where to look and what to see They choose the names to re-write old stories And lose the names of places and people forgotten, invisible But the naming is not finished. You, too, are the mapmaker the teller of stories
Disconnection Leader: This is a picture of your classroom sink. Where do you think the water comes from? 5 year old: The ocean, maybe. (Prior project)
Approach Design an experience to connect participants to Nature and Community by engaging them in a journey that reveals how interconnected they are with the Mississippi River through the Infrastructure of the Urban Water Cycle
Earth Systems Journey Design Strategies Engaging with Infrastructure Specificity to Place Narrative-Aesthetic Experience
Earth Systems Journey
Basic facts about River Journey Year long pilot (2014-2015) At River s Edge Academy Charter high school Grades 9-12 70 students +/- Environmental Education Experiential Learning http://www.riversedgeacademy.org
Basic facts about River Journey Location: 188 Plato Boulevard West-Saint Paul, MN 55107 Short walk to river & Harriet Island Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization
Basic facts about River Journey Funding Institute on the Environment: Resident Fellowship for project leader, Jonee Kulman Brigham Team & In-Kind Support River s Edge Academy U-Spatial : GIS story map training and support National Park Service: river education, NPS Centennial support West Mississippi Watershed Commission: stormwater education St. Paul Regional Water Services : water treatment plant education City of St. Paul: water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities education Metropolitan Council Environmental Services: wastewater treatment plant education Lower Mississippi Watershed Management Organization: stormwater & rain garden education Full Spring Studio: design & planning support And more advisors and contributors from the U and wider community
Phase 1: Field Exploration
Opening Poem River Journey From the sky there comes a storm causing thunderclouds to form Lightning flashes like the sun rain falls down on everyone Making puddles for the toads cleaning up the dirty roads From the land the water flows And the Mississippi grows Its water flowing from the earth, how do we know the river s worth? At river s edge we watch the stream and hear the stories waters dream Passing through the gills of fish, then cleaned and piped to wash our dish Sacred? Common? Safe to drink? What is flowing in our sink? Symbolic of our own rebirth, please speak a word for water s worth
Journey Bottles Journey Bottles is a participatory art and reflection activity resulting in a display of over 70 plastic bottles containing mixed waters and labeled with each student s expressions of water value they identify on their River Journey throughout the year.
Phase 2: Reflection/Story Map Fall/Winter U-Spatial GIS Training U of MN Map Library Activities Story Map Reflection Work Mid-year Celebration of Learning presenting story map & Journey Bottles
River Journey Fall Story Map
River Journey Fall Story Map
River Journey Fall Story Map
River Journey Fall Story Map
River Journey Fall Story Map
River Journey Fall Story Map
Celebration of Learning
Phase 3: Spring GIS Story Maps Extend the place-based River theme Integrated into four core classes resulting in four class story maps linking to 70 individual student story maps Math: Students analyze Twin Cities population projections and speculate on what this means for future water demand. Science: Students explore a variety of ecological issues along the length of the Mississippi River. English Language Arts: Students interview people about their relationship to the Mississippi River. American Studies : Students examine historical maps from the Civil War, and consider the role of water.
River Narratives Class Story Map
River Narratives Class Story Map
River Narratives Class Story Map
River Narratives Class Story Map
River Narratives Class Story Map
Story Maps as part of Narrative Aesthetic Experience Act of marking and naming place Virtual aesthetic understanding of the land Vessel / Object of the Quest
Role of Story Maps in Educational Experience Reflection & integration of place-based learning in the field Authentic audience for academic work published online Collaboration with community experts and agencies Greater awareness and understanding of environmental issues Map literacy Technology skills
Thank you Jonee Kulman Brigham Senior Research Fellow Institute on the Environment University of Minnesota & Artist, Full Spring Studio kulma002@umn.edu River Journey Project Website http://rea-river-journey.blogspot.com Links from there to project background, team, student story maps, and exhibit information