Part A : A Wicked Problem CEP 812

Service-learning is a teaching and learning approach that connects meaningful service to the community with academic learning, helping youth to gain a deeper understanding of what they are learning, to acquire new knowledge and to engage them in civic activity (Michigan Community Service Commission). To satisfy Michigan’s service-learning initiative, the entire 8th grade has participated in a sustainable learning garden for the past two years. The focus of this project is to have a well- designed garden that is easily maintained. Poorly planned beds tend to become overcrowded, creating a breeding ground for disease and insects. Crowded gardens are more difficult to weed and it's harder to reach the plants for routine maintenance and harvest. Laying out the bed properly allows plants to access the amount of light they need as well as preventing over-competition for water and nutrients in the soil.

Sustainable gardening begins with the right design that includes keeping a record of your garden plan and results each year. These records include; a base plan, inventory and an analysis, construction document, implementation and finally, maintenance. Past practice has research and recording keeping being conducted in a manner that is antiquated, cumbersome and a collection of poster of graphs lying about in an untidy mass from well over 228 students. Students and classes have no opportunity for immediate input of observation, reference to accumulated data, or the ability to save and transfer information immediately to others.

Solution

The ipad possess the capability of sharing data with other computers and other devices using what is now referred to cloud computing. This will allow the student to created, transmit and store from any other computer or internet capable device. This portable learning tool unlike a netbook has a camera and apps that can be used to enhance this project that don’t require internet access. Past practices had students to using outdated PDA’s and disposable camera which added to the mountain of tasks associated with this project.

Timing

Short Term

The iPad is not readily available due to funding. I propose to begin immediately using Microsoft Skydrive as the cloud storage application. This choice would eliminate having to have the district approve access since an account with Microsoft is already established. Skydrive provides students the opportunity to use Microsoft products such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. Student will set up an Outlook account which allows them to create, send, and receive electronic mail. This will provide them with the opportunity to send and receive messages from teachers, group member, and other individuals within the school. Outlook is an open e-mail account which provides an extra layer of protection because it can be monitored by school personnel.

The initial process for our sustainable garden begins with connecting the nutritional value of junk food with the good of a balance diet. By the beginning of March the decision of what vegetable to plant and the rooting of the plants indoors will begin. The major portion of this section of work will consist of collaborative groups from seven classes sharing.

After March, collaborative work will include sharing of research on how to find the best garden location before designing the bed so you know what space you have to work with. Locate the bed in an area that receives at least eight hours of sunlight in the summer months. This will shared as a photo presentation. In conclusion the students are asked to keep a record of the garden plan from each year. Since this is an on-going project, these records help with the next year's plan, as you usually do not want to plant the same kind of crop in the same area of the bed each year.

Long Term

The ipad is a completely portable learning tool, with a camera allows documentation to be taken to a whole different level. Apps such as Garden Plot, Gardening, Seed Planner and Field Notes LT will allows students to take copious notes of their observations, attach the date, time, GPS location and photographs of what is observed. Of the four noted apps, three work without internet connection. This will assist with the students having on site access to application if internet access is not available in areas away from the school. Even more powerful is the access to volumes of primary source documents and data to help in or out of the classroom. Student can connect to Skydrive and retrieve information stored from the beginning of this project. Another key reason for choosing Skydrive is it eliminates having additional cost for Apps added when opportunity for purchasing ipads happens. Google Doc is a noteworthy application but in the long run adds additional cost. The Google Doc app is $4.99 versus Skydrive or Drop Box which are free.