Florida Educators Receive Valuable Training and Class Materials in Invasive Animal Species Workshop

Tampa, Fla.– Amid the current global pandemic, K-12 educators from all across Florida are still participating in the Sustainability Superheroes workshops, created by the USF Stavros Center with the Coca-Cola Foundation. 
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The virtual workshop took place on June 3rd, 2020 and was hosted and produced by Deborah Kozdras, Angel Danger and Sherry Moser of the USF Stavros Center. Teachers of all subjects learned about invasive animal species in Florida while using some of the latest technology from home. They were also given a number of resources and materials for their students. Distance learning doesn’t have to be hard with the help of Sustainability Superheroes!

One invasive species in Florida is the Burmese Python (pictured right), which has been a huge concern. They negatively impact the ecosystem because they eat native species and do not have predators. Hunters are currently trying to remove and relocate them. Using a powerful educational tool called Nearpod, teachers participated in a number of invasive species activities, which gave them ideas to use for their students.

Burmese Python

Nearpod's voting poll feature

Teachers visited the Florida Everglades with Nearpod’s virtual reality feature. This could be used to take their students on a virtual field trip to anywhere in the world! Teachers also got to use Nearpod’s collaboration board where they posted ​their questions and pictures about Florida’s invasive species. Along with these, there are also open-ended questions, drawing boards, and voting polls that offer instant results. ​

Part of sustainable education is not only to encourage students to help the planet, but also make smart decisions. The lesson plans and activities in this invasive species workshop incorporated decision-making and social-emotional learning to guide students in working well with others and solve environmental problems. Check out the resources from the workshop. Then, sign up for new webinars on our USF Stavros Website! 

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