Local Ecosystem. Global Environment.

  • Focus area: Environmental Studies and English
  • Audience: 8-14 years, Teachers
  • Software application: HTML, Flash and XML

Three interactive Learning Objects that explore the research, decision making process and scientific knowlede required to review a building application on a grassland area. Each Learning Object can stand alone and act as a catalyst for further exercises. Students will learn about food webs, food chains, data collection processes and making decisions that accomodate different points of view.

Students are encouraged to explore and to reflect. The example demonstrates a high level of interactivity where the student is encouraged to take the role of an environmental scientist and to respond to a realistic scenario. Students are invited to make choices based on evidence they have collected. Critical thinking is encouraged through asking for a response to the diverse opinions provided by the stakeholders.

One aspect of the innovation lies in the opportunities for interactivity and reflection. In this project, the student is taking the role of a scientist and being asked to carry out all the aspects of that role from data collection through to the final report writing.

Objects in this family


Grasslands and its Use

Based on the same area if land that the other two interactive learning resources in this series are based, a Council meeting is represented with opinions from all the relevant stakeholders. After listening to the statements, the learner is asked to decide which are the supporting statements and which are against the development. From here different options for modifications to the proposed plan can be viewed together with the impact they will have on the community and stakeholders.


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Local Ecosystem. Global Environment. Ecology versus Development

This interactive is designed to help the user understand the importance of scientific data when trying to save habitats. The interactive starts with the data collection process - creating 'pit-fall' traps to determine the quantity of species in an area which has proposed development. From the data collected, the learner is asked to make a choice about the recommendation that should be given to the Council.


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Local Ecosystem. Global Environment. Exploring a Grassland Ecosystem

This interactive is allows the learner to explore a grassland ecosystem to discover the plants and animals found in this unique ecosystem. Through video, voice over and photographs, the following questions are answered: What are grasslands? Where are grasslands? What are the threats to grassland plants and animals? Following this introduction, the learner is asked to discover plants and animals within a grassland scene. Once discovered the learner is asked to build the relationships between the animals as either a Food Web or a Food Chain supported by fact sheets and other helpful information.


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Local Ecosystem. Global Environment. Grasslands and its Use

Based on the same area if land that the other two interactive learning resources in this series are based, a Council meeting is represented with opinions from all the relevant stakeholders. After listening to the statements, the learner is asked to decide which are the supporting statements and which are against the development. From here different options for modifications to the proposed plan can be viewed together with the impact they will have on the community and stakeholders.


read more