Overview
An EcoSphere® provided the context for the problem tasks described on this site. The EcoSphere is a self-sustaining miniature ecosystem encased in glass. Inside each EcoSphere are micro-organisms (bacteria), red brine shrimp, algae, and filtered sea water. The small spheres can survive for more than eight years while the large spheres have been known to last for over 20 years. The set of EcoSphere problem situations on the following pages were designed in 2006 to help introductory undergraduate biology students develop ways of understanding matter and energy transformations, and the role of decomposition, respiration and photosynthesis in matter cycling. The term “problem situation” is used here to describe a set of problem tasks that are linked sequentially; the initial task(s) prepares the learner to be cognitively puzzled by the subsequent task(s). All of the data-rich problem tasks included in this module were developed by April Maskiewicz Cordero Ph.D., in 2006, except for Matter Transformation part E which was developed by Josh White. Two PLNU biology graduate students have studied the effectiveness of the Ecosphere Module in a high school context (see Josh White, 2013 & Damien Vanderburg, 2012). Both studies found these problem tasks to be quite effective at promoting high school students' understanding. You can find more details about the high school implementation in a paper Josh White wrote for American Biology Teacher here: ABT paper.
These tasks would be very appropriate for the new Biology or Environmental Science AP curriculum.
The typical order of problem tasks is as follows:
1st, Matter Transformation parts A, B*, C & D*.
2nd, Energy Transformation parts A, B, & C.
3rd, Matter Transformation part E.
*Matter problems B and D work well as homework tasks. Energy problem C also works well as a homework task as long as a discussion follows the next day.
If you use these problem tasks, please cite this website as the source. Thank you.
Questions or comments? email me: AprilCordero@pointloma.edu