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[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-30px||-75px|||” custom_padding=”1px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”25px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
The Auburn University Water Resources Center<\/a> recently celebrated the successful completion of the 4-H Alabama Water Watch three- year project, Exploring and Mitigating Pathogen Pollution in Our Waters<\/i>. The NOAA Bays and Watershed Education Training (B-WET) Program<\/a> funded the three-year project with the goal of building capacity within the 4-H Alabama Water Watch Program to provide educators with the training, materials, and support needed to engage students (ages 9 \u2013 18) in coastal counties of Alabama, with Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences focused on understanding, detecting, and mitigating pathogen pollution in local waters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 4-H AWW achieved the goal by implementing four major objectives 1) Development of new bacteriological monitoring focused curriculum, Exploring Pathogens in Our Waters <\/i>(EOW)\u00a0<\/i> 2) Facilitation of professional development focused on EOW for a select group of educators. 3) Support of participating educators as they implement the project with students. 4) Facilitation of a Student Project Forum at the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve<\/a> (WBNERR).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/12\/BWET_Students_River_Basin_Map.jpg” alt=”Saraland High School students participated in an activty called Alabama River Mapping with AWW Staff, Mona Dominguez, Sergio RuizCordova, and Carolina Ruiz.” title_text=”BWET_Students_River_Basin_Map” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Saraland High School students participated in an activty called Alabama River Mapping with AWW Staff, Mona Dominguez, Sergio RuizCordova, and Carolina Ruiz. Photo Credit: Lisa Hurley<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n We designed Exploring Pathogen Pollution in Our Waters <\/i>(EOW) as a companion guide to the Alabama Water Watch<\/a> (AWW) Bacteriological Monitoring Manual. EOW includes nine lessons that present concepts for learning related to the water environment, pathogen pollution, bacteriological monitoring, data analysis, and watershed stewardship through hands-on, and when possible, outdoor learning. The final lesson provides educators with resources that they can use to guide students through the creation of their final projects, which can be a research style poster or an extension project or product (i.e., brochure, educational video, social media campaign) focused on their bacteriological monitoring findings.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Curriculum is correlated to the 2015 Alabama Course of Study (ACOS) Science Standards for grades 4 \u2013 7 and high school subjects of Environmental Science and Biology. Additionally, it is correlated to 2008 ACOS for Career and Technical Education Natural Resources . It is possible to list AWW certification on High School Transcripts.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In June 2021, <\/span>4<\/span><\/span>–<\/span><\/span>H AWW Staff <\/span>conducted professional development for <\/span>fifteen educators from<\/span> six<\/span> coastal <\/span>Alabama <\/span>counties. The training was comprised of two <\/span>synchronous zoom sessions <\/span>covering the<\/span> curriculum, project, and expectations. Educators completed <\/span>an <\/span>online self-paced AWW Bacteriological Monitoring <\/span>training<\/span>. The training ended with <\/span>a<\/span> Field Day <\/span>at W<\/span>BNERR<\/span> in Fairhope, AL<\/span> <\/span>during which <\/span>e<\/span>ducators<\/span> conducted bacteriological monitoring<\/span> of Weeks Bay.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>WB<\/span>NERR was an ideal location for <\/span>the Field<\/span> Day. <\/span>Weeks Bay Staff <\/span>made a presentation that include information and history of the NERR as well as opportunities they offer for <\/span>educators and students. <\/span>Additionally, <\/span>Weeks Bay NERR Staff led the group on a boat tour of Weeks Bay that included valuable information about the history of the watershed, unique flora and fauna of the area, and threats to watershed health. This activity was a wonderful way to emphasize the concept of \u201cLoving They Downstream Neighbor,\u201d which is AWW\u2019s slogan meant to remind people to consider their downstream neighbors when they make decisions about land-use activities that could impact water quality.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/12\/Educators_Collect_a_Water_Sample_Weeks_Bay.jpg” alt=”Educators collect a water sample from Weeks Bay.” title_text=”Educators_Collect_a_Water_Sample_Weeks_Bay” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Educators collect a water sample from Weeks Bay. Photo Credit: Mona Dominguez<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A total of 825 students<\/span> participated<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span>in the project during the 2021-2022 school year. <\/span>Around<\/span> <\/span>75% of <\/span>students<\/span> were in high school<\/span> biology, marine biology, environmental science, environmental management, and earth science classes<\/span> (including AP, <\/span>and Honors classes)<\/span>. <\/span>Elementary and middle school <\/span>students, including students with the Escambia County Gifted Program participate<\/span>d<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/12\/Gulf_Shores_High_School_Students_Collect_Bacteriological_Monitoring_Sample.jpg” alt=”Gulf Shores High School Students collect a sample for bacteriological monitoring. ” title_text=”Gulf_Shores_High_School_Students_Collect_Bacteriological_Monitoring_Sample” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Gulf Shores High School Students collect a sample for bacteriological monitoring. Photo Credit: Krista Marcum<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Student groups submitted around 40 bacteriological water data records to the AWW database; all of which are available on AWW public Water Data pages including the interactive map<\/a>. The students incorporated their monitoring results into final projects that took the form of research style posters and extension\/outreach projects or products.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Three student teams from Saraland High School participated in a Student Project Forum at Blakely State Park hosted by 4-H AWW where they presented their project posters and findings. During the Forum, they also went on a boat tour of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and created a map of Alabama\u2019s Rivers. Read more in the AWWareness Blog article, \u201cStudents Explore Pathogen Pollution in Our Waters and the Beauty of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta<\/a>\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/12\/Saraland_HS_Students_Present_Projects.jpg” alt=”Saraland High School students present their project ” title_text=”Saraland_HS_Students_Present_Projects” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Saraland High School students present their project<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>. Photo Credit: Mona Dominguez<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Project Staff developed pre\/post-tests with the goal of better understanding how student participation with the project influences their connection with water, knowledge and actions related to water, science inquiry skills, and science engagement. Overall, the pre and posttests results showed that student participation in the project had a positive impact on each of these areas. Their responses indicated that their ability to and likelihood of taking action in regard to water quality health increased.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One high school student responded in their own words on the posttest that they thought the most important thing they learned through the project, \u201cwasn’t so much water testing, but it did give me slightly more awareness of myself and things I like to do. I also feel like the process brought me closer to my future career path and overall, it was a great experience that I was glad to be a part of.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/12\/Saraland_HS_Students_After_Boat_Tour.jpg” alt=”Saraland High School students, and teacher, Marcy Bragdon, following their boat tour of the Mobile Tensaw Delta ” title_text=”Saraland_HS_Students_After_Boat_Tour” _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Saraland High School students, and teacher, Marcy Bragdon, following their boat tour of the Mobile Tensaw Delta<\/span><\/span>. Photo Credit: Carolina Ruiz<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.0″ _module_preset=”default” link_option_url=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/alabamawaterwatch\/” link_option_url_new_window=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In August 2022, <\/span>4-H AWW <\/span>began a second phase of this project thanks to a second award from <\/span>the NOAA B-WET Program<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span>Phase II will <\/span>expand <\/span>project<\/span> impacts<\/span> to educators beyond the coastal region of Alabama, even including <\/span>several Mississippi Educators through AWW\u2019s partner program, <\/span><\/span>Mississippi Watershed Stewards<\/span><\/span><\/a>. <\/span>We will <\/span>begin recruiting <\/span>a new cohort of educators to participate in <\/span>a Professional Development training in June<\/span> 2024.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nProject Curriculum<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Professional Development Training<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Project Outcomes<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
Next Steps<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n