Education Samples
Here you will find excerpts and clips
from a small handful of education projects I co-authored or contributed to.
Sneak Peeks
CLICK
these Curricular Samples to View:
Curricular Sample
Diversity Award
Design Challenge
Worlds Within was a little lesson generated with Stephanie and Brinn Pierce for our Ohio EPA-Funded work at the wetlands.
As a partnership between Great Lakes Biomimicry, Akron Public Schools, Buchtel CLC, and the University of Akron...
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Dr. Lara Roketenetz, Dana Starvaggi, Brinn and Stephanie Pierce, masterminded, won, and stewarded a grant from the Ohio Environmental Education Fund, for hundreds of learners of color to reconnect with the outdoors, while participating in a service learning effort: To design the infrastructure of a wetland site for their peers.
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Courses onsite were generated and led by Lara; Dana; myself; Stephanie Pierce; Brinn Pierce; Dominic Bruno; Nicole Hindman; University of Akron students, professors, and volunteers including PhD fellows from the Integrated Bioscience department; community experts from Great Lakes Biomimicry; and the good volunteers of the UAkron Martin Center for Field Studies at Bath.
This excerpt contains a few pictures from the 53-page Wind Generator Challenge created for Akron Public Schools. The image on the front is a wind turbine inspired by the shape of a maple seed. I developed this self-guided activity for learners containing build plans, rubrics, and resources, with help from Stephanie Pierce, several Akron Public School STEM educators, and biomimicry scholar, Dominic Bruno.
Facilitator's Guide
The Spy biomimetic challenge journal was generated to help learners practice their observation and communication skills, fostering awareness and expression. This is an excerpt from the SPY Facilitator's Guide crafted by Stephanie Pierce and myself. Colleagues in the design of all journals include Nicole Hindman, Kell-y Turnbull, and Brinn Pierce.
Self-Guided Lesson
Challenge Journal
I contributed extensive content and organization to the generation of this ReDesign Your Climb Journal developed by Stephanie Diane Pierce and Great Lakes Biomimicry. The journal is nearly 50 pages of inspiration from nature, meant to allow learners to explore creative problem-solving while practicing journal-keeping.
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The sketches within, like that brilliant octopus by Lamalani Siverts and the stunning art of Kell-y Turnbull, are contributions, frequently from their own journals, of practicing biomimetics. Colleagues in the design of all journals include Nicole Hindman, Brinn Pierce, and Kell-y Turnbull.
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Click HERE to view an excerpt from our Facilitator's Guide.
The 42-page Wind Turbine self-guided booklet generated with the support of Stephanie Pierce, helps prepare learners for the Wind Turbine Challenge, providing research opportunities and community context to the learners' puzzles. Here view a handful of pages from the guide.
Very proud: We were featured
in Pro Excellentia for our
work in Elyria City Schools!
Great Lakes Biomimicry Journal
Cover Art: Kell-y Turnbull
This work was created in collaboration with many others, particularly Stephanie and Brinn Pierce, STEM education leaders in Akron Public Schools, University of Akron PhD fellows from the Integrated Bioscience Department, colleagues from Great Lakes Biomimicry and our many partnerships, and the creative, capable learners of the NE Ohio region. Please watch for my creative portfolio, coming soon!