A Journal Comes to Life: Window on the Arctic

Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 64

God dag og Velkommen!

Hello and Welcome!

A journal is a dynamic tool that informs and inspires, all the while keeping the memories of every aspect of the adventure safe and true! With a little help from some information technology tools, as the project evolves, so evolves the journal. This makes it possible to share this awesome experience with others in "nearly" real-time! For family, friends, students, and colleagues who want to join their TREC TEACHERS & RESEARCHERS on this adventure, journaling provides the means of sharing the experience of a lifetime!

This TREC journey will reach far beyond the meaning of the acronym: Teachers & Researchers Exploring and Collaborating! Journaling will provide a window through which everyone can see the research process unfold. Throughout the journal we will explore questions that invite more questions and answers that lead to yet even more questions! Those who visit this journal will find drawings and pictures, charts and graphs, speculation and predictions and many kinds of data and evidence, all bringing the Arctic experience to you. There will be thoughts of wonder and hard, cold facts (no pun intended, but this is the Arctic we are talking about!). There will be challenges and triumphs, hopes and fears, accounts of what worked and reports on what didn't. That is what learning is all about! We can learn at least as much from our failures as we do from our successes, and I am sure this journal will show that we have experienced and learned from both! More important, it will show how all of this insightful information helped us to reach our goals!

Hopefully, this journal will inspire you to learn more about the Arctic and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for this amazing ecosystem, as well as the research process. By understanding the importance of the Arctic and various Arctic Systems, as integral parts of our Earth and its dynamic Earth Systems, those who choose to be guided by this journal will begin to develop the knowledge and insight necessary to become protectors and defenders of the delicate balance between Man and Nature.

Let’s take a “Bird’s Eye View” of where we will be going to engage in our research this summer!

Here are some things to think about! If you are standing at the North Pole, which direction is north? Is the North Pole always in the exact same location? Why or why not? Could you design a demonstration that would explain this? Where might you find information that will help you understand these questions?

Now, see if you can easily locate the Arctic Region on a globe and look for Svalbard, Norway on various maps. That will be "home" during parts of July and August. Make a list of what you think you already know about the Arctic. What might you see there? What would you probably NOT see? Why do you think that is so? How do you think the Arctic would be different from where you live? How might it be similar? You might want to brainstorm with a friend and see what you know collectively! Maybe you would like to get a bunch of friends together and form an Arctic Explorers Adventure Club and become a "virtual" part of our TREC Team! Keep your own journal or learning log so you have your own Arctic story to tell. Don't forget to share what you are doing with your families and teachers. Encourage them to join the team, as well!

Next, go make a big mug of hot cocoa with lots of marshmallows and pretend you are enjoying it at the Arctic Rim. I'll bet a lot of steam would be coming from your mug! Just where would you be? What might you see? What might you be doing when you finish drinking your cocoa?

OK! Now write down several things you would like to know about the Arctic, the Arctic Rim, and Svalbard, Norway. Think about the resources available to you where you can start to get your questions answered. See how finding answers leads to more questions? Cool, huh? Let's see what we can find out together. Please e-mail me with some of your thoughts, questions, and ideas! I might even select some of your e-mails to share in this journal so others can learn from you!

Adjø for Nå!

Goodbye for Now!