This exploratory environment has been developed as a prototype for the type of project students might create to enhance the educational experience of developing and studying an OWLS site. The software used here and the techniques (video capture using a video camera or scanning from photographs) should be available in most schools. Some pages were developed using Web Workshop (a web authoring program for elementary students) and some using Claris Home Page. A virtual or physical environment always invites continued exploration. This virtual environment will continue to expand as we spend more time on it. Contact me for additional information.
This prototype is based on the OWLS site developed by North Dakota Game and Fish in the land area adjacent to their building in Bismarck, ND. Obviously, the demonstration site is more involved than the sites schools will likely develop. The Game and Fish site contains a pond, wetland, native prairie, and forest. Most schools are likely to develop just one of these habitats.
Here are some guidelines for exploring this demonstration. Think of what you will be encountering as consisting of two parts - the section at the top will consist of an image which is usually a clickable map and the section at the bottom will contain text and links to other web resources. In most cases, I have added the images before I have had time to develop explanatory text. A clickable map is an image that is responsive to mouse clicks - i.e., something will happen when you click on a portion of the map. Sometimes the place where you should click is obvious and is signalled by the kind of buttons you see in many forms of computer software. In other cases, where to click is not obvious (usually a message under the image indicates you should click to explore). In this case, just click on something in the image you would like to see in greater detail or learn more about. If additional material is available, you will move to that material.
I hope you enjoy this activity. Keep this in mind - this is just a demonstration. Think about what you have learned from the development of your own OWLS habitat and consider how you might share this knowledge with others.
Keep in touch.
Mark Grabe (grabe@plains.nodak.edu)
