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insects Article Eight-Legged Encounters—Arachnids, Volunteers, and Art help to Bridge the Gap between Informal and Formal Science Learning EileenA.Hebets1,*,MelissaWelch-Lazoritz2,PawlTisdale3andTrishWonchHill4 1 SchoolofBiologicalSciences,UniversityofNebraska-Lincoln,402ManterHall,Lincoln,NE68588,USA 2 DepartmentofNeurologicalSciencesMind&BrainHealthLabs,UniversityofNebraskaMedicalCenter, Omaha,NE68198,USA;[email protected] 3 IndependentArtist,Lincoln,NE68502,USA;[email protected] 4 MethodologyandEvaluationResearchCoreFacility,UniversityofNebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln,NE68583,USA;[email protected] * Correspondence:[email protected];Tel.:+1-402-472-2571 Received:9January2018;Accepted:16February2018;Published:26February2018 Abstract: Increasedintegrationandsynergybetweenformalandinformallearningenvironments is proposed to provide multiple benefits to science learners. In an effort to better bridge these two learning contexts, we developed an educational model that employs the charismatic nature of arachnids to engage the public of all ages in science learning; learning that aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas associated with Biodiversity and Evolution). We created, implemented, and evaluated a family-focused, interactive science event—Eight-LeggedEncounters(ELE)—whichencompassesmorethantwentymodularactivities. Volunteersfacilitatedparticipantinvolvementateachactivitystationandoriginalartworkscattered throughout the event was intended to attract visitors. Initial ELE goals were to increase interest in arachnids and science more generally, among ELE participants. In this study, we tested the efficacyofELEintermsof(i)activity-specificvisitationratesandself-reportedinterestlevels,(ii)the self-reported efficacy of our use of volunteers and original artwork on visitor engagement, and (iii) self-reported increases in interest in both spiders and science more generally. We collected surveydataacrossfiveELEeventsatfourmuseumandzoositesthroughouttheMidwest. Wefound thatallactivitiesweresuccessfulatattractingvisitorsandcapturingtheirinterest. Bothvolunteers and artwork were reported to be effective at engaging visitors, though likely in different ways. Additionally,mostparticipantsreportedincreasedinterestinlearningaboutarachnidsandscience. Insummary,ELEappearseffectiveatengagingthepublicandpiquingtheirinterest. Futureworkis nowrequiredtoassesslearningoutcomesdirectly,aswellastheabilityforparticipantstotransfer knowledgegainacrosslearningenvironments. Keywords: STEAM;evolution;biodiversity;spiders;citizenscience;NGSS 1. Introduction An understanding and appreciation of scientific knowledge and of science as a process is fundamental, not only to daily life, but also to the future of our planet and our societies [1]. Though an understanding of the utility of science is generally appreciated by the time students enter middle and high school, interest and engagement in science declines during this same time period[2]. Decliningscienceinterestinturnleadstodecliningscienceproficiencyandpersistence[3], and is expected to hinder science learning [4]. These patterns of decreased science interest and persistenceresultinamajorsocietalchallenge—fewerandfeweradultsarescientificallyliterate[5–7]. Insects 2018,9,27;doi:10.3390/insects9010027 www.mdpi.com/journal/insects Insects 2018,9,27 2of28 Onechampionedpathtowardsincreasingscienceliteracyforyouthaswellasadults,istoincreasethe quantityandqualityofsciencelearningopportunitiesoutsideoftraditionalclassrooms[8–11]. Thoughsciencelearningcanhappeninanumberofdifferentofways,cancomefromavarietyof sources,andcanhappeninamultitudeofenvironments,therearethreecommonlyrecognizedsectors ofeducation: (i)formaleducationinschoolsanduniversities,(ii)workplaceeducation,and(iii)free choice learning, or informal education [12]. “Informal learning” and “informal education” were termsoriginallyadoptedbymuseumandenvironmentaleducatorstodistinguishbetweenactivities associated with in-school time versus out-of-school time reviewed in [13]. Such “out-of-school” learningcanbefacilitatedbymuseumsorsciencecenters,television,radio,booksormagazines,or participationincommunityorganizations,amongothers. Theprevalenceofthesefreechoicelearning opportunities, combined with the relatively limited amount of time people spend in classrooms throughout their lives, makes informal science learning critical for the public’s understanding of science[14–16]. Indeed,informalsciencelearninghasbeenshowntoaccountfornearlyhalfofthe public’sscienceunderstanding[15]. Giventheknownimpactandimportanceofinformalscience education[17],itisimperativetoaskhowthecontentofinformalscienceprogrammingaligns,ordoes notalign,withthesciencelearninggoalsofformalscienceeducation. Inrecentyears,thedichotomybetween“formal”and“informal”hasbecomelessclear,andwe have seen a push towards better integration, or bridging, across the two learning contexts [13,18]. Indeed, even in higher education (colleges and universities), formal learning has begun to adopt pedagogical strategies historically frequented in informal settings (e.g., Scientific Teaching; [19]). Anongoingtransformationinundergraduateeducation[20–24],forexample,isresultinginincreased opportunitiesforstudentstousescienceprocessskillsortosynthesizeexperimentalresultsinthe classroom[25]. Whiletheedgesmaybeblurring,cleardistinctionsnonethelessremainbetweenformal andinformaleducation—e.g.,policymakersdeterminethegoalsandframeworkofformal,butnot informal,sciencelearning;andinformallearningtendstobedoneonavoluntarybasis,andoftenhas asocialcomponent[13]. Amovementtowardsthefurtherintegrationofformalandinformallearning isdrivenbythenumerousproposedbenefitsforlearnersofallages—e.g.,(i)increasingmotivation forlearning,(ii)building“connectedknowledge”,and(iii)facilitatingthelearningofnewskills[13]. Coincidentwiththesebenefits,challengestointegrationremain,andamongthesechallengesisthe alignmentofknowledgecontentandlearninggoalsacrosscontexts. ThedevelopmentoftheK-12NextGenerationScienceStandards(NGSS)[26]—formaleducation sciencestandardsin theUnitedStates—was guidedby theU.S. NationalResearch Council(NRC) framework, that highlights the importance of learning how to evaluate claims, how to construct argumentsbasedonevidence,andhowtointerpretandunderstandmodels[27]. Thesestandards are intended to help create a scientifically literate society. Following their implementation, it was suggested that external entities and organizations, such as scientists from higher education and researchorganizations, aligntheircontributionstotheseneweducationalgoals[28]. Inparticular, giventheimportanceofinformalsciencelearning,anintegrationofNGSShasbeensuggestedtobe criticaltobuildingsciencelearningecosystems[28,29];collaborativelearningcommunitiesthatcan contributetoincreasedscienceliteracy. Acrossthecountry,thereareongoingeffortstointegrateacross formalschoolcurriculumandscience,technology,engineering,andmathematics(STEM)learning opportunitiesinavarietyofvenues,includingcommunitysciencecenters,museumsandsummerand afterschoolprograms[30,31]. In this study, we set out to contribute to the growing STEM learning ecosystem of Lincoln, Nebraska(NE),andotherMidwesterncommunities,byusingarachnidstoconveysciencecontent associatedwithsomeofthebiodiversityandevolutionconceptsintheNGSS.Wedidthisthroughthe creationofaninteractive,hands-oninformalsciencelearningevent,entitledEight-LeggedEncounters (ELE).WefirstimplementedELEatMorrillHall,partoftheUniversityofNebraskaStateMuseum (UNSM), but later, broadened our reach to museums and zoos in Colorado (CO) and Ohio (OH). Wefocusedexplicitlyonmuseumsandzoos,becauseresearchhasdemonstratedthatevensingletrips Insects 2018,9,27 3of28 toamuseumcanhaveanimpactonthelearningofscientificconcepts[32,33],includingimprovingthe conceptualunderstandingofevolution[34,35]. Thus,giventhedemonstratedimportanceofmuseum and zoo visits as vehicles for informal science learning [14,36–39], in addition to our previously establishedconnectionswithsuchvenues,weusedfourmuseumsandzoosinNE,CO,andOHtotest ourELEprogram. Thisstudyleveragesauniquecombinationof(i)personalconnectionsbetweenmuseumstaff anduniversityprofessors,(ii)indepthknowledgeof(arachnid)organismalbiology,biodiversity,and evolution,(iii)workingknowledgeofNextGenerationScienceStandards(NGSS),and(iv)aworking relationshipbetweenlifescientistsandsocialscientists,toultimatelycreate,implement,andtestan educationalmodelthatbridgesinformalandformalsciencelearningthroughthepurposefulalignment ofsciencelearninggoals. Wecontributedirectlytothefieldofinformalscienceeducationbyproviding amodelofcollaborationamongdistinctsectorsofeducation(formalandinformal),andassessingits efficacy. InourevaluationofELE,weexploretheimpactofintegratingbothartandsocialinteractions (i.e., volunteers facilitating activity stations) in informal science learning experiences. Finally, we providepreliminaryevidenceoftheusefulnessofanorganismalfocus—inthisinstance,arachnids—in increasing public interest in both animals and science. In the following sections, we outline our rationaleforanarachnidfocus,andthenprovidedetailsofELEanditsassociatedevaluation. 1.1. WhyArachnids? Many invertebrates are ubiquitous, easy to maintain in a classroom, and familiar to virtually all students around the globe, making them potentially useful for engaging students in hands-on sciencelearning.Indeed,insectsandtheircrustaceanrelativesinparticularhavebeenusedsuccessfully fornumerous“guided”inquiryunits—e.g.,pillbugs(crustacean),butterflies,mealworms,ladybugs, honeybees,mosquitoes,andtermites(reviewedin[40,41]). Bycontrast,however,arachnids(spiders andtheirrelatives)havenottraditionallybeenincorporatedintoformalorinformalsciencelearning tothesameextent(butsee[42,43]). Nonetheless,likeinsects,manyarachnidsareabundant,familiar (atleastspiders),easilymaintainedincaptivity(e.g.,tarantulas,[44],scorpions,[45]),morphologically andbehaviorallydiverse[46,47],andplayimportantecologicalroles.Spiders,forexample,areestimated toconsume400–800milliontonsofpreyannually,makingthemkeyplayersinnaturalecosystems[48]. Thediverseanddistinctpropertiesofspidersilkalsomakeitofinterestforuseinavarietyofbiomedical applications(reviewedin[49–54]),suchasbonetissueengineering[55],andassubstratestofacilitate tissueregeneration[56].Spidersilkisalsobeingusedformaterialsinnovationinareasencompassing optics,electronics,andtextiles,amongothers[49,54].Similarly,arachnidvenoms(predominantlyspiders andscorpions)arebeingexploredfortheirpotentialuseasanalgesics,antimalarials,antiarrhythmics, andantimicrobials[57,58],aswellasforpesticidedevelopment[59–61].Ultimately,arachnidsarehighly relevanttoourlives,ubiquitousinnature,wellknown,andtremendouslydiverse,makingthemwell suitedforengagingthepublicinsciencelearning.Indeed,theextraordinaryfeaturesandfeatsofspiders alonehavebeentoutedasarichsourceofbothinspirationandcontentforsciencelearningacrossa multitudeoflifesciencecoreconcepts[62].Finally,arachnidmorphology,behavior,andevolutionary historyaredistinctfromthoseofinsects,thusofferinguniqueeducational,ecological,andculturalroles insociety(foranoverviewofinsects,see[63]). Despite the numerous features that might make arachnids ideal organisms to leverage for hands-on science learning, students and teachers alike are often afraid of and/or dislike arachnids. Children and adults, for example, tend to have negative attitudes towards spiders ([64], reviewed in[65]).Weproposethatsuchnegativeattitudes,however,arelikelyassociatedwithalackofknowledge. Deficientknowledgeofarachnidsamongthegeneralpublicisdemonstratedbythefactthatchildren oftencategorizespiderswithinsects,despitetheirdistinctformandevolutionaryhistory[66].Evenadults groupspiderswiththemost“disliked”bugs[67].Amongyoungadults,forexample,27%ofsurveyed U.S. college students included “spiders” in their list of disliked bugs [67]. Prior research using live spiderswithchildreninaneducationalsetting,however,foundthatarachnidinterventionscouldleadto Insects 2018,9,27 4of28 decreasedfearanddisgustofspiders,aswellasincreasedpositiveenvironmentalbeliefs[42].Amore recentstudyincorporatedexemplarsfromfivelivingarachnidorderstoexplorehumanattitudestowards arachnidsandsimilarlyfoundthatarachnidinterventionscanleadtodecreasedfear,perceiveddanger, anddisgust[43].Thispriorworkdemonstratesthatnegativeattitudestowardsarachnidsarenotbarriers totheirinclusioninscienceeducation.Notably,spiderswerealsothemostcommonlyrecalled“bug”[67] amongadults;meaningthatspidersarehighlymemorable.Indeed,morethantwentyyearsofresearch andpublicengagementusingarachnids(Hebets,EApersonalobservation)suggeststhatpeopleofall agesaresimultaneouslyexcited,worried,intrigued,scared,andcaptivatedbyarachnids.Wesuggest thatthestrongemotionalresponseelicitedbyarachnidscanprovideafoundationandentrypointfor stimulatingsciencelearning. 1.2. ELEOverviewandGoals Eight-LeggedEncounters(ELE)consistsofaseriesofinteractivemodularscienceactivitiesthat usearachnidstoconveylifescienceideasalignedwiththeNGSScoreconceptsofBiodiversityand Evolution. OverarchinggoalsofELEweretoincreasescienceinterest,knowledge,understanding,and futurescienceengagementineventparticipants—especiallyknowledgeandunderstandingrelatedto thefocalNGSScoreconcepts. Bybridginginformallearningexperienceswithformallearninggoals, weaimedtoprovidebothafoundationofknowledgeandanadditionalcontextofknowledgeupon whichformaleducationcanbuild. ImmediategoalsofELEweretoengagevisitors;increasepositive attitudestowardsarachnids,explicitlyspiders;andincreaseinterestinscience. Whilelikelyimpactful onitsown,ELEwasmeanttocontributeyetanotherdimensiontolocalSTEMlearningecosystems. Intermsofevaluation,wefocusedexplicitlyonquestionsregarding(I)activity-specificvisitor interest;(II)theimpactofartandvolunteersonoverallvisitorengagement;(III)improvedattitudes towardsspiders;and(IV)increasedinterestinscience(Table1). Asthisstudyencompassestheinitial developmentandefficacy-testingofELE,assessmentsofknowledgegainwerebeyondthescopeof ourcurrentevaluation. Thiscurrentstudyfocusesontheefficacyoftheoverallmodel,butdoesnot yetexplorethelongtermimpactofthemodelontheparticipantsand/orthecommunity. Table1.OverviewoffocalstudyquestionsassociatedwithEight-LeggedEncounters. Howinterestedwereparticipantsindistinctactivities? Howeffectivewerethevolunteersandartworkatengagingvisitors? Didparticipatingintheeventimprovepositiveattitudestowardsspiders? Didparticipatingintheeventincreasescienceinterest? TheprimaryaudienceforEight-LeggedEncounterswasvisitorstothemuseum/zooontheday oftheexhibit. TheELEeventattheUniversityofNebraskaStateMuseum’sMorrillHall(hereafter UNSM)inspring2013wastheinauguralevent. Infall2013,asubsetofELEactivitieswaspresentedat theButterflyPavilioninChesterfield,CO(BP).Inspring2014,UNSMhostedthesecondELE(UNSM 2014),followedbyanothereventinfall2014,hostedbytheDenverMuseumofNatureandScience (DMNS)inDenver,CO.Finally,theToledoZoohostedasubsetofELEactivitiesduringtheirannual “BugFest”infall2017(TZ).ThetwoELEeventsatUNSMwerewelladvertised,andmanyvisitors cametothemuseumexplicitlyfortheexhibit. Incontrast,ELEwasnotwelladvertisedattheother sites,andthus,themajorityofvisitorsattendingthemuseum/zoowerenottherewiththeexplicit intentofparticipatinginELEactivities. Eight-LeggedEncountersusedtwoprimarymeansofengagingvisitors—(a)livevolunteersthat engagedwithparticipantsateachactivitystation,and(b)originalartworkinvariousformsthroughout the exhibit (detailed in ELE Activities). We explicitly used volunteers because “interactivity” and informal,interpersonalsocialinteractionsaresuggestedtobecriticaltolearningandengagement[68,69]. Intermsoforiginalartwork,werecruitedandcollaboratedwithalocalartist(P.T.)soastofacilitatea non-scientist’sinterpretationofarachnids. Insects 2018,9,27 5of28 EachELEstationtypicallyhad1–3volunteersatalltimes,dependinguponthesizeofthevenue andthenumberofavailablevolunteers. Manyofthevolunteersweregraduatestudentsfromthe UniversityofNebraska-Lincoln(UNL,allfiveevents),theUniversityofColoradoBoulder(BP),the UniversityofColoradoDenver(BP),andBowlingGreenStateUniversity(TZ).Additionalvolunteers includedstaffatlocalzoos(e.g.,Henry-DoorlyZoo,UNSM),anddocentsandvolunteersfromthe DMNS.Undergraduatestudents,aswellasfellowfacultyfromUNL(UNSM;DMNS)andBowling GreenStateUniversity(TZ),alsoparticipatedasvolunteers. Thelevelofsciencebackgroundacross volunteers was variable. Undergraduates were predominantly Biology majors, graduate students weremostlyfromEcology,Evolution,andBehaviororientedprograms,andfacultyweremostlyfrom BiologyandPsychologydepartments. Therewerenoincentivesforvolunteers(e.g.,noextracredit) otherthanreceivinganEight-LeggedEncounterstee-shirt. Volunteerswererecruitedpredominantly throughpersonalinquiriesandemaillistservs. Volunteerswereassignedastation(s)priortotheevent,andwereprovidedwithvolunteer“cheat sheets”,whichtheywereaskedtolookoverandstudy. Inmostcases,previouslytrainedvolunteers wereabletorunthroughmockdemonstrationswithallnewvolunteerspriortotheirparticipation. Theeventexplicitlytargetedfamiliesbypurposefullyincorporatingactivitiesthatweimagined wouldbeengagingforarangeofages—fromtoddlers(e.g.,ReadAloud)toadults(e.g.,Community Experiment). Ourexpectationwasthatifweprovidedengagingactivitiesforawiderangeofaudience ages,entirefamilieswouldbemorelikelytocome,wouldstaylonger,wouldlearnmore,andwould bemoreengagedoverall. Parentsandotherfamilymembersareknown,forexample,tohavestrong influencesonstudentattitudesaboutpursuingscience[70–72]. Sharedfamilyexperiencesininformal sciencelearninghasalsobeenshowntoincreasebothscienceinterestandscienceself-efficacy([73,74], reviewedin[75]). 1.3. ELEConceptualThemes WhendesigningEight-LeggedEncountersactivities,wefocusedontwobroadconceptualthemes: BiodiversityandEvolution. Biodiversityknowledge,especiallyamongyouth,isfrequentlybiased towardsvertebrates—e.g.,mammals,birds,andreptiles. Ironically,thetaxathatrepresentthemajority ofearth’sbiomassandspeciesrichness—i.e.,arthropods—areunderrepresented[76]. Indeed,there arefarmorespeciesofspiders(47,099;[77])thantherearemammals(<5500), birds(~10,000), and reptiles (lizards, snakes, turtles, crocodiles, tuataras, and amphisbaenians) (10,450; [78]) together. Biodiversity,andconservingtheearth’sbiodiversity,isimperativeforthehealthofourplanet,aswell asourselves[79],andweattemptedtousearachnidstoconveysomeofthisamazingbiodiversity. Importantly, biodiversity is a Disciplinary Core Idea in the NGSS (LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans; seeTables2–5). Coincidentwithconservingearth’sbiodiversityisanecessaryunderstandingofevolution.Indeed, understandingevolutionisrelevantforconservation,agriculture,andmedicine—itisimperativefor helpingussolveourmostpressinglocalandglobalchallenges[80–82]. Unfortunately, theUnited Statesrankssecondtolastamongtheindustrializednationsintermsofacceptanceofevolution[83], andanumberofstudiesdemonstratethateventhosethatacceptevolutiondemonstratefundamental misunderstandings(reviewedin[84]). Giventhesedeficiencies,formaleducationappearsinadequate inprovidingafoundationofunderstandingofevolutionarytheory[84]. Asaresult,manymuseums acrosstheworldhavebeguntodevelopandevaluateexhibitstargetingevolutionarytheory,focusing theirevaluationontheeffectivenessofsuchexhibitsincontributingtoconceptualchangewithrespects to reasoning about evolution [34,35]. Given this, we leveraged arachnids to convey Disciplinary CoreIdeasintheNGSSassociatedwithevolution(LS1.A:StructureandFunction;LS3.B:Variationof Traits;LS4.A:EvidenceofCommonAncestryandDiversity;LS4.B:NaturalSelection;andLS4.C:Adaptation; seeTables2–5). In addition to the specific Biodiversity and Evolution-based core ideas, we additionally incorporatedthefollowingcoreconceptsintovariousactivities: LS1.D:InformationProcessing;ETS1.C: Insects 2018,9,27 6of28 OptimizingtheDesignSolution;LS1.B:GrowthandDevelopment;andLS2.A:InterdependentRelationshipsin Ecosystems(seeTables2–5). WealsoincorporatedtheScienceandEngineeringPracticesofDeveloping andUsingModelsandAskingQuestionsandDefiningProblems,aswellasthecross-cuttingconceptsof StructureandFunction;Scale,Proportion,andQuantity,andScienceAddressesQuestionsabouttheNatural andMaterialWorld(seeTables2–5). 1.4. ELEActivities WiththethemesofBiodiversityandEvolutioninmind,weidentifiedfourdistinctcategoriesof activities: (I)ClassificationandTaxonomy,(II)SpidersandSilk,(III)PathofPredators,and(IV)Hands-on Science. Throughout,wetriedtoincorporatebestpracticesininformalscienceeducation,forexample, usingliveanimalswhenpossible[85]. Weoutlinetheassociatedactivitiesbelow. 1.4.1. ClassificationandTaxonomy Classification and Taxonomy activities included any number of the following discrete modules: WhatisanArthropod,CreateaChelicerate,andAssembleanArachnid(Table2). Thesemodulesallfocuson thearachnidsandtheirarthropodrelatives—i.e.,whatphysicalcharacteristicsuniteand/ordistinguish differentgroupsofarthropods,andtowhatanimalsarearachnidsmostcloselyrelated? Whatistheir evolutionaryhistoryandtheirevolutionaryrelationships? Activitiesinthisgeneralcategoryinclude games,aswellasartsandcrafts. Table2.ArthropodClassificationandTaxonomyActivities,alignmentwithNGSS(DisciplinaryCore Ideas,Science&EngineeringPractices)andbriefdescriptions. Superscriptabbreviationsrepresent thevenueswhereactivitieswereincorporated(ButterflyPavilion,CO2013BP;UniversityofNebraska StateMuseum—MorrillHall,NEUNSM2013;2014;DenverMuseumofNatureandScience,CO2014DMNS; ToledoZoo2017TZ). Module NGSS BackgroundandActivityDescription Background:Arthropodsarethemostdiversegroupof LS1.A:Structure&Function animalsonourplanet,andtheyincludetheinsects, WhatisanArthropod? LS4.A:EvidenceofCommonAncestry&Diversity crustaceans,andchelicerates. (BP;UNSM2013,2014;DMNS) LS4.D:Biodiversity&Humans Activity:Game.Participantstrytoplaceplasticmodel AskingQuestionsandDefiningProblems arthropodsintheirappropriatesquarebaseduponexternal bodyfeatures—e.g.,sixlegsvs.eightlegsvs.tenlegs. Background:Arachnidsaresurprisinglydiverse,with 11differentlivingordersthatvaryinsize,structure(form), AssembleanArachnid LS1.A:Structure&Function sensorycapacity,habitat,andbehavior. (BP;UNSM2013,2014TZ) LS4.D:Biodiversity&Humans Activity:Coloring,cutting,taping/pasting.Participants createtheirownnovelarachnidbychoosingafrontand backbodyparttocolorandputtogether. Background:Arachnidsarearthropodsthatareclosely relatedtohorseshoecrabsandseascorpions.Theyallshare CreateaChelicerate LS1.A:Structure&Function ageneralbodyplan:2bodyparts,4pairofwalkinglegs,a LS4.D:Biodiversity&Humans pairofchelicerae(mouthparts),andapairofpedipalps. (BP;UNSM2013,2014;DMNS;TZ) DevelopingandUsingModels Activity:Claycreation.Participantsbuildtheirown chelicerateusingairdriedclayandpipecleanersofvarious colorrepresentingdifferentappendages. 1.4.2. SpidersandSilk The Spider and Silk activities include of any number of the following discrete modules: Build a Burrow, Catch a Moth, Sticky vs. Wooly Silk, Tissue Paper Flower, Weave a Web, Sound Station, and Read Aloud. Many of the modules within this category focus on one extraordinary feature of spiders—their ability to produce multiple kinds of silk which they use in a diversity of distinct ways(e.g.,protectingeggs,buildingshelter,catchingprey,wrappingprey,transferringsperm,etc.). SimilartotheClassificationandTaxonomystations,theseactivitiesalsoincludegames,artsandcrafts, aswellasfreeplay(Table3). Insects 2018,9,27 7of28 Table3.SpiderandSilkActivities,alignmentwithNGSS(DisciplinaryCoreIdeas,Science&EngineeringPractices,Cross-CuttingConcepts),andbriefdescriptions. Superscriptabbreviationsrepresentthevenueswhereactivitieswereincorporated(ButterflyPavilion,CO2013BP;UniversityofNebraskaStateMuseum—Morrill Hall,NEUNSM2013,2014;DenverMuseumofNatureandScience,CO2014DMNS;ToledoZoo2017TZ). Module NGSS RationaleandActivityDescription LS1.A:Structure&Function Background:Thefirstspidersdidnotbuildorbwebstocatchpreyoutoftheair,butinsteadbuiltsilk-linedburrows,oftenwithsilken LS1.D:InformationProcessing triplinesradiatingawayfromtheburrow’slip.Spiderscandetectvibrationsthroughthesesilkentraplines. BuildaBurrow (UNSM2014) LS4.C:Adaptation Activity:Craft&Game.Participantsbuildasilk-linedburrowusingfishinglineassilk,andfoamdoorhangersandsnapbraceletsas LS4.B:NaturalSelection burrows.Oncebuilt,apreyencounterissimulated:electrictoothbrushesareusedtostimulateoneofthetriplines,andthe DevelopingandUsingaModel participantsarechallengedwithdetectingwhichtriplinewastriggered. LS1.A:Structure&Function Background:The“bolasspiders”provideanunusualexampleofadaptationwithrespecttoforging.Adultfemalesproduceachemical LS1.D:InformationProcessing thatmimicsthepheromonesoflocalmoths.Asmalemothsapproachwhattheyexpecttobeafemale,thehuntingspiderswingsa CatchaMoth (BP;UNSM2013,2014;DMNS;TZ) LS3.B:VariationofTraits lineofsilkwithastickydropletattheendtocapturethemothoutoftheair[86]. LS4.B:NaturalSelection Activity:Game.Participantsswinga“bolas”—astringwithapingpongballcoveredinVelcro—athangingmothscoveredin LS4.C:Adaptation matchingVelcropatchestotrytocatchthemoutoftheair.Weusefeltmothsmodeledaftertwospeciesthataretargetprey. LS1.A:Structure&Function Background:Spidershaveevolvedtwoprimarywaystomaketheirwebssticky.Cribellatespiderscombouttheirsilkusing LS3.B:VariationofTraits specializedstructurestogiveitadhesivepropertiesthatrelyonVanderWaalsforces,whileEcribellatespidersaddstickyglue LS4.B:NaturalSelection Stickyvs.WoolySilk dropletstotheirsilk. (UNSM2014) LS4.C:Adaptation Activity:Experiment.Participantsareprovidedtwopiecesofyarn.Withonepiece,theyadddropletsofgluealongthelengthand ETS1.C:OptimizingtheDesignSolution thendropconfetti(i.e.,prey)ontheyarn.Withtheotherpiece,theyuseaneyebrowbrushtocombouttheyarnandsimilarlydrop DevelopingandUsingaModel confettiontop.Theythenliftupthetwopiecesofyarnandobservetheirrespectiveabilitiestocaptureprey. AskingQuestions&DefiningProblems Background:Somecrabspiderscanchangecolortomatchthefloweronwhichtheysit.Theyambushpredators,waitingtograb LS4.B:NaturalSelection insectsthatvisittheflower. TissuePaperFlower (BP;UNSM2013,2014;DMNS) LS4.C:Adaptation Activity:Craft.Usingdifferentcoloredcratepaperandpipecleaners,participantscreatetheirownflower.Oncecreated,theypicka DevelopingandUsingaModel crabspider—eitherwhiteoryellow—andplaceitontheflower.Volunteersdiscusswiththemtheimportanceofcamouflageforthese ambushpredators. Background:Orbwebs—i.e.,“classic”spiderwebs—arecomplexstructuresthatarecreatedusingdifferentsilktypeswithdifferent LS1.A:Structure&Function WeaveaWeb properties(e.g.,strength,toughness,elasticity),generatedfromdifferentsilkglands. (BP;UNSM2013,2014) LS3.B:VariationofTraits Activity:Sewing.Participantsuseyarnofdifferentcolor,plasticcanvas,andchildren’ssewingneedlestosewaspiderwebpattern. Structure&Function Differentcoloredyarnisusedtosignifythedifferenttypesofsilk. LS1.A:Structure&Function Background:Manyspiders“sing”bycreatingvibrationsthatcanbesentthroughvarioussubstrates—e.g.,leaves,grass,pineneedles. SoundStation (BP;UNSM2013) LS1.D:InformationProcessing Activity:Listen.Participantsareinvitedtoputonheadphonesandlistentothesoundsgeneratedbyspiders.Laminatedphotographs LS4.D:BiodiversityandHumans ofthestructuresusedtogeneratethesesoundsaccompanythisstation. Background:Toddlersneedanopportunitytoletoutenergy,play,andexplore.Thiscanbeaccomplishedinamannerthat ReadAloud simultaneouslyexposesthemtoscience-relatedcontent. NotApplicable (BP;UNSM2013,2014) Activity:Listeningandplay.Toddlersareinvitedtoplaywitharthropodstuffedanimals,puppets,andpuzzles.Avarietyof arachnid-themedchildren’sbooksareavailabletolookthrough,andvolunteersreadbooksaloudatintervalsthroughouttheevent. Insects 2018,9,27 8of28 Table4. PathofPredatorsActivities. Allelevenstationswereimplementedatfourofthefivefocalevents(MorrillHall, NE2013and2014; ButterflyPavilion; andDenverMuseumofNatureandScience). AttheToledoZootheMiniPathofPredatorswasimplemented(Amblypygi,Araneae,Scorpiones,Thelyphonida). DisciplinaryCoreIdeas(NGSS)coveredinthePathorPredatorsactivitiesinclude:LS1.A:StructureandFunction;LS1.B:GrowthandDevelopment,LS1.D:Information Processing;LS2.A:InterdependentRelationshipsinEcosystems;LS4.B:NaturalSelection;andLS4.C:Adaptation;LS4.D:BiodiversityandHumans.Cross-Cutting ConceptsincludeScale,Proportion,andQuantityandScienceAddressesQuestionsabouttheNaturalandMaterialWorld. Order CommonNames ActivityDescription Ectoparasites:Usethedigitalhandheldmicroscopetolookcloselyattheseectoparasites—animalsthatfeedonotheranimalsfromtheoutside.Canyoutellwhich Acari TicksandMites individualshadarecentbloodmeal?Haveyoueverhadonefeedonyou? AmblyReach:Useyoursenseoftouchtoexploreanewenvironment—reachintoaboxandguesswhatisinside. RainforestCafé*:Experiencewhatitwouldbeliketogetalloftheinformationaboutyoursurroundingsfromanappendage—reachintoopeningsinthisartificial Whipspider;Tailless Amblypygi treetrunkandcomparewhatyoufeelwiththe“menu”provided. whipscorpion AmblyWave*:Learnhowamblypygidsfightoneanotherandhowscientistsdiscoveredthattheyuseairparticledisplacementtodeterminewhowinsthefight. Tryyourhandatanamblypygidbattlebyvibratingyour“antenniformleg”asmanytimesaspossibleoveranopponent’s“sensoryhair”. EatlikeanArachnid1:Arachnidsdigesttheirfoodexternallypriortoingestion,andthenusetheirsuckingstomachtopullintheliquefiedfood.Eatlikeanarachnid bysuckingupapplesaucethroughastraw. Araneae Spider SpiderSenses*:Learnaboutspider’ssenses,inparticular,theirabilitytodetectvibrationsinwebs.Howgoodwouldyoubeatdetectingprey?Whileblindfolded, placeyourfingersonthedifferentwebstringsanddeterminewhichoneisbeingvibrated. Whichoneoftheseisnotliketheother?Theanimalscalled“daddylonglegs”intheUnitedStatesareactuallynotspiders,donothavevenom,andcannotbite Harvestmen; Opiliones humans.Oneeasywaytodistinguishspidersfromharvestmen(thepreferredcommonname)isthatharvestmenlookliketheyonlyhaveonebodypart(though Daddy-long-legs(inUSA) theyreallyhavetwo).Lookattheimagesontheposterandseehowmanyharvestmenyoucanfind. BlindMaze:Palpigradesaretinyblindarachnidsthatnavigatetheirworldusingsensesotherthanvision.Testhowgoodyoumightbeatnavigatingtheworld Palpigradi Microwhipscorpion usingonlytouch—putonablindfoldanduseyourfingerstotrytocompleteathree-dimensionalmaze. Falsescorpion; Phoresy:Pseudoscorpionsarenotoriousforhitchingrideswithotheranimals—abehaviorcalledphoresy.Experiencewhatitwouldbeliketohitcharidebysitting Pseudo-scorpiones Bookscorpion onaskateboardandusinglongmetalpincerstograbontoafriendastheypullyoualong. Egg&SpoonRelay:Malericinulidstransferspermtofemalesusingaspecializedbasket-likestructureontheirthirdwalkinglegs.Theytransfertheirspermtoa Ricinulei Hoodedtickspider locationonthefemalethatsitsinbetweenthetwobodyparts.Ricinulidsalsolackeyes,andarethusblind.Tryyourhandatricinulidspermtransferby transferringsperm(i.e.,actuallyanegg)toafemalericinulid(constructedoutoffoamballsandemptytoiletpaperrolls)usingaspoon;nowtryitblindfolded. DiggingforPrey:Schizomidsaresmallpredatoryarachnidsoftenfoundinleaflitter.Seewhatpreyareavailabletoschizomidsbydiggingthroughoneofthetubs Schizomida Shorttailedwhipscorpion ofleaflitter.Forceps,vials,andhandlensesareavailableforthoseinterestedincatchingandobservingtheirpotentialprey. ScorpionShine:Allscorpionshavebeta-carbolineand4-methyl,7-hydroxycoumarinintheircuticle,whichcausesthemtofluoresceunderultravioletlight.Shinea blacklightflashlightonascorpion.Whydoyouthinktheyfluoresce? Scorpiones Scorpion StingersandPincers*:Thereisoftenanegativerelationshipbetweenthesizeofascorpion’spincersandthesizeofitsvenombulb.Scorpionsthatrelymoreontheir pincersforpreycapturetendtorelylessontheirvenom.Testhoweffectivepincers(i.e.,forceps)ofvaryingsizeareatcapturingpreyofvaryingsize(i.e.,seeds). Windscorpion;Sunspider; EatlikeanArachnid:Arachnidsdigesttheirfoodexternallypriortoingestionandusetheirsuckingstomachtopullintheliquefiedfood.Eatlikeanarachnidby Solifugae Camelspider suckingupapplesaucethroughastraw. ChemicalDefenses:Vinegaroonsgetthiscommonnamefromtheirdefensivebehavior—sprayingliquidfromglandsattheirhindendtowardspredators.Theliquid WhipScorpion; Thelyphonida ismadeupprimarilyofaceticacid,andthussmellslikevinegar.Takeacottonball,squirtliquidonitfromthebottleprovided.Holdthecottonballuptoyour Vinegaroon nosetoseehowwellthisstrategywouldworkifyouwerethepredator. *ActivitiesnewtotheToledoZooexhibit(2017);1ThisactivityhasbeenusedfortheAraneaestation(ToledoZoo)aswellastheSolifugaestation(NE&CO2013–2014). IInnsseeccttss 22001188,, 99,, x2 7 99 ooff 2288 1.4.3. Path of Predators 1.4.3. PathofPredators The Path of Predators is a set of eleven stand-alone stations representing the eleven living arachTnhiedP oarthdeorfsP—reAdactaorris, iAsamsbeltyopfyeglei,v Aenrasntaenade,- aOlopnieliostnaetsio, nPsarleppigrerasedni,t iPnsgetuhdeoeslceovrepniolinveins,g Raircaicnhunliedi, oSrcdheirzso—mAidcaa,r Si,cAormpbiolynpesy,g Sio,Alifruagnaeea,e a,nOdp Tilhioenlyeps,hPoanlipdiga r(aTdaib,lPes 4e)u. dTohsocuogrphi tohneeys ,wReicrein ourliegii,nSaclhlyiz cormeaitdead, Stoco wrpoirokn teosg,eStohleifru igna teh,eairn ednTtihreetlyy,p thhoen Pidatah (oTf aPbrleeda4t)o.rsT chaonu bgeh ttrhimeymweder deoowring itnoa allnyyc sriezaet,e ddetpoenwdoinrkg tuopgoenth tehrei navtahielairbeilnittyir oetfy s,ptahceeP aantdh osftaPffr.e dFaotro resxcaamnpblee, twrihmilme ethded EoLwEn evtoenatnsy ins iNzeE, danedp eCnOdi ningcluupdoend tthhee afuvlali lealbevileitny sotaftsiponacs,e sapnadces tlaimff.itaFtoiornesx aremqpuliere,dw uhsil etot hmeoEdLifEy ethvee nftuslli nexNhiEbiat nindtoC Oa riendculucdeded fotrhme fautl ltehlee vTeonlesdtaot ioZnoso,,s pOaHce. liOmuirta tmioondsifrieeqdu iMreidniu sPtaothm oof dPifryedtahteorfsu lilnecxluhdibeidt inAtomablryepdyugcie, dAfroarnmeaaet, tShceoTrpoiloedneosZ, aonod,O THhe.lOypuhromnoiddai.fi edMiniPathofPredatorsincludedAmblypygi,Araneae,Scorpiones, andTThheely Ppahtho nofi dPar.edators and the Mini Path of Predators have associated activity booklets that go along withT thhee sPtaatthioonfsP. rTehdaet borosoaknledtsth inevMitien piaPrattihciopfaPnrtesd taoto grrsahba av epeansscoilc, igaote odna ac tjiovuitrynebyo othkrloetusgthh athteg oexahloibnigt, wanitdh dthisecsotvaetiro tnhse. wThoendboerofkulle wtsoinrlvdi toef paarartcihcinpiadnst (sStuopgprlaebmaepnetanrcyil M,gaoteorniaalsj—ouPrnatehy otfh Prroeudgathorths eanedxh Mibiint,i aPnadth doif sPcroevdeartotrhs)e. Twhoen adcecrofrudliowno-srtlydleo fboaorakclehtns ihdasv(eS ounpep pleamgee ndteadriycaMteadt etori eaalsc—h aPraatchhonfidP roerddaetor.r sThaensde MpaingiesP apthroovfiPdree diantsotrrsu).cTtihoensa cfcoorr dpiaornti-csitpyalenbtso, oaknledt sohftaevne opnroevpiadgee odpepdoicratutendittieose afochr awrraicthinngid aonrdd/eorr. Tdhreasweipnagg. eEsapchro pvaidgee ianlsstor uhcatsio anns f“oArtp Harotmiciep”a nsetsc,tiaonnd, wofittehn spurgogveidsteioonpsp oofr taucntiivtiietsiefso rthwatr ictianng baen dd/oonre doruatwsidineg o.fE tahceh epvaegnet. aTlshoe hfiarssta pna“gAe toHf othme eb”osoekclteito nad,wdiittihonsaulglyg ehsatsio an sphoyflaocgtievnietiteics ttrheaet rceapnrbeseednotinneg othuets hidyepootfhtehseizeevde nretl.aTtihoensfihrisptsp aamgeoonfgt thhee beoleovkelnet oarddderitsi.o Ansa lplyarhtiacsipaapnhtsy cloogmepnleettiec atrne aecrteivpirteys aetn etiancgh tohredhery psottahteiosniz,e dvorelulantitoeenrssh ipstsaammpo ntghetihre ealcetviveintyo rdboerosk.lAets pina rttihciep aonrtdsecro-smppelceiftieca nloaccattiivointy aotne atchhe oprhdyelrosgteantieotnic, vtroeleu.n Utepeorsn sctoammppltehteioirna ocft iavlilt yacbtoivoiktileest ianntdh ereocredipert- ospf eaclilfi sctalmocpatsi,o pnaortnictihpeanpthsy cloagne snheotiwc ttrheeei.rU cpoomnpcloetmedp lebtoioonkloeft atoll aac vtiovliutinesteaenr datr etcheeip ftroonfta ltlasbtlaem apnsd, ptahretyic irpeacneitvsec aan psrhiozwe (tih.ee.i, rtcooym sppliedteerds binoiotikallelty,t oanadv tohleunn toereirgiantatlh aertfwroonrtkt atabtlteooasn)d. Ethacehy Preacthe iovfe Parepdraitzoer s(it.aet.i,otno ywsapsi dcoemrspionsiteidal olyf, 1a–n2d tathbelens ocroivgeinreadl awrtiwtho prkhottaotgtoroaps)h.s,E parcehsePravtehdo sfpPerceidmateonrss, taantido nwwheans pcoomssipboles,e dlivoef s1p–e2citmabelness icno vtrearnesdpawreitnht pchonottoaignrearpsh. sI,np rpeasertrivceudlars,p eEcLimE enosft,eann dhawdh elinvep owsshibiple ,slpivideesrps ec(Aimmebnlsypinygtri)a,n ssppaidreenrst c(oAnrtaanineaeres),. Ihnaprvaretsitcmuleanr, (EOLpEiloioftneensh),a pdsleiuvdeowshcoiprpsipoindse,r ssc(oArmpibolnysp (ySgcio),rsppioidneerss),( Aanrdan veianee)g,haraorvoensst m(Tehnel(yOpphiloionnideas)),. pEsaecuhd Poastcho ropf iPornesd,astocrosr pstiaotniosn(S acdodrpitiioonneasll)y, ahnadd vitins eogwarno oonrisgi(nTahle alyrtpwhoornki dsaig).n—Ea3c h× P5a ftth foofaPmr epdaotsotresr sbtoatairodn (aFdigduitrieo n1a),l leyxcheapdt iatst tohwe nToolreidgoi nZaoloa, rwtwhoicrhk hsiagdn 6— ×3 8× ft 5orfitgfionaaml aprotwstoerrkb poaarindt(eFdi gcuanrev1a)s,eesx (cFeipgtuaret t2h)e. ETaolcehd oPZatoho ,owf Phriecdhathoar dst6at×ion8 fatlsoori hgianda lanar otwriogrinkapl asitnatmedp c(Sanuvpapsleesm(eFnigtaurrye M2)a.tEearciahlsP—atFhigofuPrere Sd1a)t,o ra ssteartiieosn oafl stowoh atdo athnreoer igtriandailnsgta cmarpd(sS wupitphl eomriegnintaarl yarMtwatoerrkia olsn— oFnieg usirdeeS 1a)n,da fsuenri efascotsf towno thtoe tohtrheeer t(rFaidgiunrge c3a)r,d sa wseitth oofr iogriingailnaarl twscourlkptounreosn e(Ssuidpepalenmdefnutnarfyac tMsoatnerthiaelso—thFeirg(uFrieg uSr2e),3 )a,nads eatto fleoarsitg ionnael sicnutelpratuctrievse( aScutpivpilteym (Tenabtalery 4)M. aterials—FigureS2),andatleastoneinteractiveactivity(Table4). . FFiigguurree 11.. OOrriiggiinnaall aarrttwwoorrkk ppaaiinntteedd oonnttoo ffooaamm ppoosstteerr bbooaarrddss ((33 ×× 55 fftt)) aanndd hheelldd oonn eeaasseellss aattttrraacctteedd ppaarrttiicciippaannttss ttoo tthhee eelleevveennb biiooddiivveerrssiittyys sttaattiioonnssa assssoocciiaatteeddw witithht thheeP Paatthho offP Prreeddaatotorrss.. Insects 2018,9,27 10of28 Insects 2018, 9, x 10 of 28 Insects 2018, 9, x 10 of 28 Figure 2. Six-by-eight foot original canvases were used to draw in attende es at the Toledo Zoo’s Path Figure2.Six-by-eightfootoriginalcanvaseswereusedtodrawinattendeesattheToledoZoo’sPathof Fofi gPurreed a2t.o rSsi xe-vbeyn-et.i ght foot original canvases were used to draw in attendees at the Toledo Zoo’s Path Predatorsevent. of Predators event. Figure 3. Original artwork trading cards were handed out to youth following the completion of the FPiagtuh roef P3.r eOdraitgorins aalc tairvtiwtioesrk. Y toraudthin wg ecraer dasb lwe etore c hhoaonsdee don oeu ot ft tow yoo ourt hth froelelo dwififnegr etnhte d ceosmigpnlse.t Tiohne obfa tchkes Figure3.Originalartworktradingcardswerehandedouttoyouthfollowingthecompletionofthe Poaf teha ocfh P creadradt ohrsa da citnivfoitrimesa. tYioonu trhe gwaerrdei nagb leth teo fcohloloowsei nogn et oopf itcws:o O orrd tehrr enea dmifef;e rCeonmt dmeosing nNsa. mThee (bwahckens Patoahfv oaefialPcahrbe ldecaa);tr oHdr ashbaaicdtat itiv;n iaftonierdsm .FaYutoniou Fnta hrcetwg. aerrdeianbgl ethteo cfohloloowseinogn etoopfictsw: oOordretrh rneaemdei;f fCeroemnmtdoens iNgnams.eT (hwehbeanc ks ofeachcardhadinformationregardingthefollowingtopics: Ordername; CommonName(when available); Habitat; and Fun Fact. 1.4a.v4.a iHlaabnled)s;-Hoanb Sitcaite;nacned FunFact. 1.4.4. Hands-on Science The Hands-on Science activities included two modules that allowed participants to play the role 1.4.4. Hands-onScience of scTiehnet iHstasn (dTsa-obnle S 5c)i.e nInce paacrtitviciutileasr ,i ntchleu dCeodm mtwuon imtyo Edxupleersi mtheantt aalllloowweedd p paarrtitcicipipaanntsts t oto p claoyll etchte t rhoelier oofw Tsnch ileeinvHetia ssntpsdi sd(-Teoarn,b rSluec ni5e n)i.tc Itenha rcpotuaivrgtihitci uae slpairrne, c-tdlhueeds iCegdonmetwmd ouexnmpiteoyr diEmuxlpeeensrtit,mh caeontlltae lacltlol dowwaeteadd, pe pnaartetrirtc idicpiapataann,t ostsbt ostoepr cvloaeyl lreetchatle -tthriomelieer of scioedwnattnais lttisrve(enT sdapbsi,ld eaen5r,)d .r uIunnl tpiitm atrhatrtieocluuygl arhre ,aat dhp erae C-fdoinemsaimlg uwnnerdiitt yee-xEupxpep roeimrfi methneetn, tecxaoplllleoercwitm eddeantpat.,a erDntiutceeirp tdaoan tstasp, atoocbecs eoarlnvledec rtleotaghlie-stitirimcoaewl n livdecoasntpasi tdtrraeeirnn,dtrsus,, n thaient dtCh ourmoltmuimguhnatiateylpy Er xerep-daerdeims aige nnfiten odanl elywx ptroietoreki-mu ppel anoctef, cdtohulelr eiencxgtp dteharetima U,eeNnntSt.M eDr eduveae tntao,t sos ibpnsa eLcreivn aceonrldena ,l lNo-tgEiims. teicdala ta trecn odnss,taranidntus,l ttihme aCtoemlymrueanditya Efixnpaerl iwmrenitte o-unplyo tfotohke pelxapcee rdiumreinngt. tDheu UeNtoSsMpa ecveeanntsd inlo Lgiinstcioclanl, cNoEns. traints, the CommunityExperimentonlytookplaceduringtheUNSMeventsinLincoln,NE.

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One championed path towards increasing science literacy for youth as well as adults, is to increase the quantity and . In our evaluation of ELE, we explore the impact of integrating both art and social interactions . In addition to the specific Biodiversity and Evolution-based core ideas, we additi
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