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The Onondaga Lake Habitat Awareness Project Description
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The Onondaga Lake Kiosk project, initiated by the Onondaga County Health Department Division of
Environmental Health, in conjunction with the Living SchoolBook, describes
the ecosystem of Onondaga Lake. Currently, this upstate New York lake is seen
as a polluted, unattractive resource. The goal of this project is to change
misperceptions of the lake by providing information and education in an
interesting interactive format.
A tour of natural habitats has been created to help dispel the perception
of Onondaga Lake as a desolate, polluted area. Emphasis is on the surrounding ecosystem of the lake, rather than on the
waters. Areas included are adjacent wetlands, meadows, woodland, as well
as brush areas describing wildlife and plants. The tour is designed to appeal to a slightly informed
audience with reading levels ranging from eighth grade through high school.
The Development Partners include:
- LSB Staff - project coordination, Kiosk CD-ROM product, and web development,
data collection including photos, videos and sound.
- County Health Department (Division of Environmental Health) - purchased
hardware, supplied content, and final product evaluation.
- Grant Middle School - assisted in story boarding, editing, narration, drawings
and design elements.
- Syracuse University School of Education pre-service science students - writing, drawings,
photography, content augmentation and collaborated with Grant Middle School
on story boarding and design.
- County Parks Department - advisory role.
- SUNY-ESF graduate students - provided content, written material and served in an advisory
capacity.
This prototype demonstration product will be made available through a touch screen kiosk.
CD-ROM versions will also be available after October 31, 1998.
Future plans include:
- The development of a web-based
version to be delivered on the Internet.
- Interactive
journey of the Onondaga Lake ecosystem through the seasons
- Detailed review of various plants and animals found in and around the lake.
- A section with historical
perspective about Onondaga Lake, e.g. oral histories, geography, maps, and other
local resources.
- A focus on the lake clean up plans
If interested contact:
Don Gates @ (315) 443-5273 or by email -
degates@mailbox.syr.edu
The Living SchoolBook Internet address is: http://lsb.syr.edu