Smithsonian, Friends of National Zoo

AAM MUSE Award, Science (2004)
(American Association of Museums)

“Best Museum Website 2004”
(Museums and the Web)

“First Place, Interpretive Multimedia”
(National Association for Interpretation)

Parents' Choice Gold Award (2005)

Project: Conservation Central

Clients: Friends of the National Zoo, Smithsonian's National Zoo

My Role: Lead Project Developer

• prototype design
• seven Flash-based Web interactives (concepts, interactive frameworks, content)
• curriculum concept/development
• Family Learning Activities
• CD-ROM content developer/media producer
(contracted by Brad Larson Media)

Overview: Students and families learn the importance of monitoring, restoring and conserving temperate forest habitats locally, nationally, and globally for the health and survival of the species living within them and for the valuable ecosystem services that forests provide.

Comments:
Judges for Museums and the Web (Archives and Museum Informatics)

"Conservation Central is a middle school science teacher's dream. This is an extremely thorough resource for standards-based learning about conservation and habitats. The activities are well-balanced with both high-tech, extensive Flash interactives and low-tech, simple printout family learning activities.”

“Great for educators and for children. Thoughtful execution. Great lessons and good use of multi-media. Good balance between high and low tech.”

“ ...good, quality content.”

Judges for American Association of Museums (Media & Technology Committee)

This web site provides a great deal of information about conservation biology, a difficult subject to explain to the general public ...presented in a way that highlights the complexities that underlay the science and practice of conservation. A great deal of thought and effort clearly went into this project. Within the site are games that allow visitors to build panda habitats and learn about the factors which determine the survival of species. The jury enjoyed the fact that there was no single "right" way to complete these activities. Especially impressive were the diverse range of material available to educators.

Dr. Lucy Spelman, Director, Smithsonian's National Zoo…
“Conservation Central provides students and families with opportunities to become better informed, get involved, and make a difference in their own communities, as well as affect the future of critical animal habitats around the world.”

	The Conservation Central website is the action-oriented hub for interactive simulations, online curricula, and family learning activities.
	Giant Panda Video Album CD-ROM highlights National Zoo scientists' research and observations of Mei Xiang's and Tian Tian's behaviors and preferences. Videos highlight feeding strategies, enrichment activities, play behavior, etc. Twenty-one cameras mounted in the Panda Habitat use remote sensing to track their daily routines.
	Finding Common Ground, an inquiry-based online and print curriculum, aligns with national social studies and science standards, and explores temperate forest conservation issues in the US and China. The curriculum integrates technology to teach hands-on science through virtual and real field studies.
	A Walk in the Forest takes students on six different walks in a virtual Virginia forest. They conduct experiments to monitor biodiversity and analyze data using the same scientific methods as Smithsonian scientists.
	Habitat Adventure: Panda Challenge draws users into the decision-making process regarding temperate forest conservation issues in central China.
	Design a Panda Habitat - Young people create the optimal giant panda habitat, incorporating scientific research and their own observations via the Zoo's PandaCam or a Zoo visit.
	The Zoo Conservation Gallery allows students and families to contribute their ideas, campaign posters and conservation action plans to do their part to conserve habitats!
	Informal, multi-age family learning activities encourage local habitat conservation and connect with curriculum concepts.