Abie L. Benítez
I am interested in learning more about ecology as a scientific and scholarly discipline specially, in regards to scientific methodology. This should help expose my students to scientific exploration that will enhance their learning and effective implementation of scientific inquiry. Not only the experimentation but to develop scientific thought processes. These processes should be demonstrated through their increased writing and reporting ability. Although this is an ambitious curriculum Ecology seems to be the discipline that can enhance their learning about science going at it from a variety of standpoints.
Ecology is the scientific study of the relationship between plants and animals and their environment. Understanding this relationships between living and non-living things can help us find ways to protect and preserve the environment. Young people who are at a time in their life in which they are making many decisions about who they are can benefit from learning how our actions as a specie has impacted ecosystems. I want my students to excel as individuals who are well informed citizens that make decisions based on accurate knowledge as opposed to emotions or politics.
Recently I visited the Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven and I realized that extinction as a popular concept has only been around for about 300 years. To think that people who lived before that time never thought of the possibility that an animal or plant could disappear seem incredible. Nowadays we know that many species have become extinct leaving a void beyond repair. Although we do not know the final impact of all human activity on the environment it is our responsibility to be aware of how our activities can be disturbing to the global ecology of our planet having serious repercussions in the future. Thus, my aim is to help students gain the knowledge necessary to think and express themselves in regard to this topic.
