CODE 320 Reflections
Reflection 1
The goal of our group project is to help students at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Academy better connect with and understand the environment around them, especially when it comes to biodiversity and conservation. We plan to do this through the development of the northern campus, turning it into a space where students can actively learn and explore. Using a science-based approach, we want to create an engaging, hands-on environment that shows students how ecology is part of their everyday lives. By highlighting the relationships between plants, animals, and people, we hope to make these ideas more relatable and meaningful for middle school students in East St. Louis, Illinois.
Our project is mainly designed for students in grades 5 through 8. Since ecology builds on basic science concepts, students will need some foundational knowledge of biology, such as simple food chains and how living things depend on one another. In addition to students, teachers are also an important part of this project. The space we create can serve as a dynamic teaching tool that they can use to support their lessons in a more interactive way. The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation is another key stakeholder, as they help guide the direction of the project and ensure that the content and goals align with their mission. As it was mentioned to make it accessible to high school students as well, we think it would be best to keep what we have since what’s being targeted is for 5th through 8th grade students. We hope to get not only them involved but also the community where then maybe highschoolers can become interested about conservation and biodiversity and how they can help their community.
Reflection 2
For our project, we really want our work to reach the students at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Academy, especially those in grades 5 through 8. They’re the main focus because they’re at an age where they’re starting to understand more about science, but they also still learn best through hands-on experiences. By turning the northern campus into an interactive space, we want to help them actually see and explore biodiversity instead of just reading about it. The goal is for them to understand how plants, animals, and people are all connected, and to realize that ecology is part of their everyday lives.
Teachers are also really important to this project. We’re not just creating something for students to walk through—we want it to be something teachers can actively use in their lessons. Their input matters because they know what works best in the classroom and what students need to learn. If they help shape the space, it can become a more useful and engaging teaching tool instead of just an outdoor area.
Another big stakeholder is the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation. Since they’re already involved with the school and the community, their guidance helps make sure our project stays aligned with their mission and actually benefits the students in a meaningful way.
Lastly, the East St. Louis community also plays a role. Even though we’re focusing on middle schoolers, we hope this project sparks interest in others too, like high school students or families. Overall, all of these groups should help shape our work so it’s relevant, engaging, and something that can last and continue to make an impact.
Reflection 3