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Funded Project |
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Funding Program:
Enhancement Grants - Special Projects |
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Project Title:
Expansion of "Elementary Insects" Extension Program |
Project Director (PD):
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Lead State: TX Lead Organization: Texas A&M University |
| Undesignated Funding: $5,040 |
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Start Date: May-01-2007 End Date: Apr-30-2008 |
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Summary:
Successful IPM programs for schools and public buildings have been developed and implemented. However, the principles of IPM should be expanded into our youth programs and to other residents of Texas. We propose to implement the innovative curricula, graphics and Internet modules found on www.elementaryinsects.tamu.edu, that were developed in 2005-2006 thorough funding by a Southern Region IPM grant. These modules were developed to allow those utilizing them to continue educating the general public about entomology and IPM practices. Currently there are modules available on this website, concerning mosquitoes, fleas, spiders, and good and bad insects in the landscape. Eventhough all of these modules are available to teachers and county extension agents throughout the world, the main distribution of these modules in Texas will be accomplished through contacts with educators in San Antonio and Dallas, TX.
Objectives: Objective 1 (May through August, 2007): Compile a list of educators names, addresses and email addresses in the Dallas and San Antonio areas. Objective 2 (August through December, 2007): Print and distribute insect booklets to interested educators. The educators will also receive instruction on presenting each lesson within the booklet. Administer pre and post tests to participating students. Objective 3 (January through March, 2008): Compile answers from pre and post tests to estimate knowledge gained by the students. |
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Final Report: |
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Project Type: IPM Seed Grant or IPM Capstone Grant This project was an IPM Seed Project to allow elementary aged students to engage in interactive presentations. These hour long presentations allowed us to present to classes in Dallas and San Antonio, TX about various insects and IPM tactics for control. |
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Introduction A great concern for extension groups throughout the United States is locating and developing methods to educate producers and the general public about entomology and IPM. Through the development of the internet, a new means for educational tools for IPM can be delivered and used by teachers, health officials, and county extension agents. Elementary Insects is a series of modules developed for elementary grades 2nd 5th. The modules cover a variety of topics including Mosquitoes, Fleas, Spiders, Ticks and Good Bugs, Bad Bugs in the Landscape. Little information has been converted to formats that meet the publics demand for high quality design and interactivity. Elementary Insects has developed innovative new curricula, graphics and Internet modules available to teachers, county extension agents, and health departments throughout the United States. Each module is based on the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) philosophy for pest management. The modules were developed to allow continuing education to producers and the general public about IPM, in order to reduce risks to human health. |
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Outcomes During 2006 and 1007, 438 students in four schools were reached in Richardson, Dallas and Garland and 245 students in seven schools and educational organizations were reached in San Antonio, TX. Good Bugs, Bad Bugs in the Landscape, Spiders: Spooky or Cool?, and Controlling Mosquitoes Around Your Home modules were topics covered with these groups. The results for the Good and Bad Bugs booklet were: Lesson 1 had a 14.6% increase in knowledge, Lesson 2 had a 15.9% increase in knowledge, Lesson 3 had a 21.1% increase in knowledge, and Lesson 4 had a 17.5% increase in knowledge. The results for the Spiders: Spooky or Cool booklet, the pre test score was a 46.8% and the post test score was a 73.1%. This is a 56.2% increase in knowledge. The results for the Controlling Mosquitoes booklet, the pre-test score were 69% and the post test score was 77.5%. This is a 12.3% increase in knowledge. We were able to present the Elementary Insects Program at the Entomological Society of America annual meeting in 2006 and in 2007. We were also able to present a paper at the Entomological Society of America annual meeting in 2007. |
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Impacts We were able to positively impact the lives of elementary aged children in Dallas and San Antonio by providing interesting, interactive programming that focused on IPM tactics. I asked several teachers about their thoughts on how our elementary insects program changed behaviors of their students. Here is their collective response: "Most of my students have a less "panicked fear" of the insect, and have a "healthy fear" that does not necessarily lead to the insect being killed. They realize that they are a necessary part of the environment (even if they don't care for them)." "Many of the students won't kill the insects because they do realize that they are good. Especially spiders are in this category. They know better than to pick them up, but realize that they are good for the environment." "There have also been several instances of the students sharing information with their parents, and being very forceful about how they should treat insects when discussing it with other students." |
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Non-technical summary The Elementary Insects modules are an effective and useful form of curricula for our youth. Youth showed an average increase in overall knowledge after receiving the module curriculum, indicating retention of the material. Overall, the educators were very pleased with the modules presented. They enjoyed the recommended questions for each lesson that promoted class discussion and student critical thinking. Activities were educational and supplemental to the lessons, but were also enjoyable to the students. Educators expressed great interest in using modules in the future. In the future, we plan to continue to promote the Elementary Insects curriculum, develop additional modules covering butterflies and moths and termites, and develop video clips for educators to use to describe proper collecting techniques, preparation of insects, and care for arthropods in the classroom. |
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Appendices I have included our poster presented at ESA and a Powerpoint presentation of the results from the modules. |
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