A new tool for teaching about decomposition and carbon cycling:
Introducing <http://imold.utoledo.edu/>IMOLD: the Interactive Model of Leaf Decomposition (<http://imold.utoledo.edu/>http://imold.utoledo.edu/), designed to provide educational outreach about decomposition for grades 9-12. IMOLD includes professionally animated and narrated lessons about decomposition and the C cycle; an interactive model that allows users to simulate decomposition for several plant litters in different environments based on a range of LTER sites; and lesson plans for teachers with learning objectives that map to specific curricular standards at national and state levels. Please share this resource with the teachers you collaborate with, and consider using it in your outreach activities. All materials on the IMOLD website may be used and shared freely for educational purposes.
Now that the lessons and interactive model have been completed, we hope to collaborate with educators to develop useful classroom activities and guidance specifically focused on taking advantage of the interactive model and animations. We would welcome any suggestions, guidance, and opportunities for collaboration on this.
IMOLD was created by <http://www.utoledo.edu/nsm/envsciences/faculty/weintraub.html>Dr. Michael N. Weintraub, <http://www.utoledo.edu/nsm/envsciences/faculty/moorhead.html>Dr. Daryl L. Moorhead, and the <http://www.utoledo.edu/centers/cci/>Center for Creative Instruction at the <http://www.utoledo.edu/>University of Toledo. This project was funded by the <http://nsf.gov/>National Science Foundation <http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12822>Ecosystem Science Program (Grant# <http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0918718&HistoricalAwards=false>0918718).
