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Technology Integration Information Sheet Introduction The EnvironMentors technology integration component will extend students’ research and learning through incorporation of social media to connect students within and across chapters with hand held and digital sampling equipment to enhance students’ experimental field research. The new technology integration program component includes three main elements: 1. Online EnvironMentors Community which will support social networking among students with other students, mentors, and topic experts within and across chapters, as well as collaborative learning among chapter directors, coordinators, and teachers.

2. Digital Tool Kits including hand held electronics, digital still and video cameras, simple GPS units, and other digital sampling equipment to enhance student’s experimental field research. The ability to upload images and data will support further engagement in the online EM Community Site. Funding for Digital Toolkits is provided to all chapters.

3. Technology integration lessons and activities which will be integrated throughout EM’s core curriculum and link the use of hand held and digital sampling/monitoring equipment with EM’s online community and NCSE’s Encyclopedia of Earth.

Tips for EnvironMentors Technology Integration Develop your chapter’s Digital Tool Kit. Consider what hand held devises and digital sampling/ monitoring equipment you want all of your students to have available for their research.

Let students know that they will be establishing a personal profile for their EM project within the online EM community and encourage them to take pictures related to their project as early as possible.

Review the basic technology integration lessons, ideas and consider how you will weave these into your EM program.

Introduce students to NCSE’s Encyclopedia of Earth (EOE), (www.ncseonline.org/eoe) early on in the program to assist them in reviewing the expansive array of environmental issues and topics they might consider for their research. Hone in on their EM project topic; support students in conducting their literature review research; and identify topic experts for their expert interview.

Assist students with credibility assessments in online research including and other new engines Utilize Google Earth and Google Maps to enable students to virtually identify and help characterize their EM field research study site.

Work with Excel features to support students in organizing and analyzing their data as well as in developing tables, charts, and graphs to display their data.

Make use of Web Cams to allow students who may not qualify to come to Washington, DC for the national Fair and Awards Ceremony to virtually present their projects to judges in DC.