As we get ready for the 2008 Heron Conference, students, presenters, parents, and teachers may be curious about the 2007 conference.
What happened at last year's Heron Conference?
It was held Feb. 9, 2007 at the UW-Arboretum. MMSD School Board President Johnny Winston Jr. gave the keynote speech. Students attended 2 workshops and then, after lunch, went outside for nature walks.
What's the purpose for conference workshops?
Heron Network Conferences are designed to give students a sense of how adults “do inquiry” and to inspire students in their own inquiries. We ask presenters to share some of their expertise about how they ask and answer questions in their professional or personal lives. What’s something you’re passionate about? What have you taken time and energy to explore at some point in your life? Why did you choose your topic? What questions really motivated you? How did you find your way when you got stuck? How do you stay motivated to learn more? There could even be failures to address.
What workshops did students attend in 2007?
Design This!
Led by Brenda Baker of the Madison Children’s Museum
Have you ever wondered how museum exhibits get designed? Do you like to pretend and explore? Have you ever been to a children's museum? Are you an artist? If you answered yes to any of these questions then this session is for you!
Is Lake Wingra Healthy?
Led by Jim Lorman, Edgewood Professor of Biology
Lake Wingra has the most-used beach in Madison; it is full of fish and all kinds of other interesting critters. It’s shores are inhabited by everything from rare plants to great blue herons. But bacteria levels are sometimes so high that the beach must be closed, the water is often so murky you can't see your feet as you stand in it, and large numbers of invasive plants and animals are tending to take over the original native species. Is the lake healthy or not? How can we tell? If it is not as healthy as we'd like, we can we do about it? In this session, we will talk about these questions as we visit one of the healthiest spots on the lake.
All the Colors We Are
Led by Richard Davis
This session is led by University of Wisconsin Professor of Music, Richard Davis. Professor Davis is also a facilitator for the Institute on the Healing of Racism. Join him to talk about the colors of us.
How Does an Arboretum Become a Game?
Led by Mark Wagler and Dave Wirth
With extra information from a PDA (handheld computer), you’ll walk around outside the Visitor Center, looking for things that will help you figure out what the Arboretum is. This short tour is not yet a game . . . but if you and your friends had different roles (maybe an entomologist, a botanist, and a bird-watcher) . . . and if your team had a challenge to help save the Arboretum (maybe a disease killing trees, which kills some birds and insects too) . . . and if you got clues about kinds of diseases and symptoms . . . you’d be playing an augmented reality game. Wear boots, coat, cap, and gloves!
Winter Biology
Led by Kevin Niemi
How do animals and plants survive winter? Why don't elephants live in Wisconsin? Where do our insects go during winter? Come learn about how some animals and plants survive the cold of winter while others cannot.
Who Doesn’t Love Food?
Led by Brent Kramer, Education Coordinator, Wisconsin Homegrown Lunch and Farmer Jake Hoeksema
My passion is food. Who doesn’t love food, right? But how many of us know where our food comes from or who produces it? The food choices we make are important for our own health and the health of our community and our environment. There are many great foods grown or produced right here in Wisconsin. In this session, we can discuss why Wisconsin foods are such a delicious and healthy choice for us and our environment.
What Kinds Of Arguments Work Best?
Led by Margaret Krome
I work as a lobbyist. My organization listens to farmers' ideas about what kinds of programs could help them use farming practices that protect the soil, water and wildlife on their farms. Most of the time, it's not me or other people like me who are important at persuading lawmakers. More often, it's ordinary people who contact their lawmakers. My job is to teach them how to persuade with facts and effective arguments. It's exciting and fun to figure out just what kinds of arguments work best to persuade someone of your position.
How Are Books Illustrated?
Led by Eileen Dawson
My name is Ms. Dawson. I'm an artist. I will have on display original art from W is for Wisconsin, H is for Hoosier and H is for Hawkeye from the A-Z books about the states. The discussion that we'll have will be about how a book like this is made: Who has the original idea? Who writes the text? Who decides what type of art to use? What decides what each piece of art will look like? Who decides what type of letters to use and where they should go on the page? Etc, etc. Kids who love books and art are welcomed to attend.