Introduction to plant phenology and climate change through Project BudBurst Course Syllabus -Overview
Welcome to Project BudBurst! We are glad that you will be a part of our community! This course is designed for K-12
teachers to assist them with the knowledge to fully participate in Project BudBurst involving their students.
Involvement in Project BudBurst will give students valuable experience collecting data and will give them the
opportunity to make meaningful contributions to ongoing scientific research where scientists are very interested in
the observations students across the county are making.
This professional development course will provide you with detailed information on Project BudBurst and how to
participate including how to select your plants and make observations, suggestions for structuring your classroom
involvement, classroom activities to engage your students in making observations, as well as forming a community
with other K-12 teachers within Project BudBurst.
Each Unit includes a combination of readings, videos, discussions, activities, and self-assessments.
This is a self-directed course with suggested Unit deadlines. You will be completing this course in 30 days with a
cohort of other educators.
Instructor Communication
Although this course is a self-directed course, there is an Instructor monitoring the course and available for questions.
To contact the Instructor, please direct your messages to [email protected].
Course Objectives
After completing this course, you will be able to:
• Fully participate in Project BudBurst
• Successfully use Project BudBurst as a part of your curriculum
• Engage your students in Project BudBurst observations and activities
• Become part of the growing community of Project BudBurst educators.
Course Materials
This course requires Internet connectivity and access to an Internet Browser (i.e. Internet Explorer, Firefox). The
following software is also required:
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Adobe Reader is also required and is available free of charge at http://get.adobe.com/reader/
Microsoft Word (version 2007 or higher)
Continuing Education Units (C.E.U's)
Optional Graduate level Continuing Education credit will be available through Colorado School of Mines. The cost
of 2 credits is $90. Details on how to sign up will be made available during the first week of the course.
Requirements for Successful Course Completion
Successful completion is measured by your completion of all assignments, which includes taking both the pre- and
post-assessments. You will need to earn 80% or higher on the post-assessment.
Course Outline
Unit 1: Background
This Unit will share an overview of Project BudBurst activities and the Website. It also presents a brief history of the
project and provides an overview of the significance of Citizen Science. Finally it introduces educators to the NEON
Citizen Science Academy.
Learning Objectives: •
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Complete the pre-assessment.
Understand the mission of Project BudBurst and partnering Institutions.
Understand the role of Citizen Science as it supports scientific inquiry.
Navigate the Website for general information about the various aspects of Project BudBurst
Share your initial ideas for implementing Project BudBurst in your classroom.
The anticipated commitment for this Unit is 4-­‐5 hours. Unit 2: Plants and Climate
This Unit will provide readings and activities for you to learn more about the connections between plants and our
climate. The section features a series of videos that review key concepts associated with plant phenology and climate
change. It also introduces phenology as a field of study and scientists who have devoted their life work to this field.
Learning Objectives: • Read about the growing scientific study of phenology.
• Learn about the paths some scientists have taken in the field of Phenology.
• Understand how plant phenology is influenced by climate change.
• Learn why plant phenology is important.
• Read scientific articles that discuss / explore the connections between plant phenology and climate change.
• Read/listen to stories of dedicated people involved in phenology.
The anticipated commitment for this Unit is 5-6 hours.
Unit 3: Plants and Phenophases
In this Unit, you will start the active process of participating in Project BudBurst. You will learn about the specific plant
species targeted in Project BudBurst and the phenophases of interest to the Project. You will also select a plant to
monitor and conduct research to better understand the life history and phenophase progression of that plant.
Learning Objectives: • Understand what a phenophase is.
• Identify phenophases in timelapse videos.
• Select a plant for observation.
• Learn how to identify the phenophases for your selected plant.
• Collect information pertaining to the plant of interest.
• Describe your observation location including GPS coordinates.
The anticipated commitment for this Unit is 5-­‐7 hours. Unit 4: Participation
In this Unit, you will continue the active process of setting up your Project BudBurst account by registering on the
Website and describing your location and plant(s) for observation. This is an exciting Unit as you are now a registered
member of the Project BudBurst community! You will also learn how about Single Reports (status based observations)
vs. Regular Observations (event-based observations). You will make contribute your first PBB observation on the
Website.
Learning Objectives: •
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Register for Project BudBurst.
Setup your Project BudBurst account including at least one plant for observation
Setup student accounts if applicable.
Understand the reporting process on the Project BudBurst Website.
Understand where the data is submitted and where to view the data results.
Submit a Single Report (status based report)
Read case studies surrounding implementation of PBB in various education settings (informal and formal)
Develop ideas for how to implement PBB in your education setting.
The anticipated commitment for this Unit is 5-­‐6 hours. Unit 5: Project BudBurst in the Classroom
In this Unit, you will explore methods to implement PBB in your educational setting. The unit will highlight activities
that are suitable for all age groups including elementary, middle and high school grade levels and adult participants.
You will also be asked to develop an activity that is specific to the educational group whom you work with (K-12 or
informal). This activity will be tied to educational objectives for your school system, or informal education center. This
activity, in turn will be shared in a public forum with others in your cohort to begin a dialog about PBB
implementation in various educational settings.
Learning Objectives: • Review the educational resources available on the Project BudBurst Website.
• Develop at least one activity suitable for your classroom. Share it with your cohort.
• Provide feedback on at least one activity developed by a fellow classmate.
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Discuss in greater detail how you will implement Project BudBurst in your classroom.
The anticipated commitment for this Unit is 5-­‐6 hours. Unit 6: Project BudBurst in MY classroom
In this final Unit, you will bring together all that you have learned in this course by developing a lesson sketch. This
lesson sketch will detail in general terms how you will be implementing Project BudBurst in your classroom.
You will also revisit the activities developed in Unit 5 – providing positive, critical feedback to your peers with respect
to activity ideas.
Learning Objectives: • Develop a lesson sketch detailing how you will be using Project BudBurst in your classroom.
• Complete the post-assessment.
• Complete the course survey.
• Provide feedback on one PBB activity submitted as a part of Unit 5.
The anticipated commitment for this Unit is 6-­‐8 hours.