Ms Cowburn at Masaya Volcano

Sorry I didn’t get to blog or send videos while I was at the volcano.  But as expected, the internet was hard to come by.  I came to Managua yesterday and checked into the hotel at the airport so I was able to download a few of the shorter videos.  The larger ones will have to wait.  Please use the teacher tube link 3 postings down and let me know if you are able to view them.  I am also working on a slide show of photos.  Lots more information to share with you when I have a more reliable connection.  Stay tuned.

I am all packed for the trip. I have my hiking boots, my first aid kit, and my clothes. I started taking anti-malaria drugs, got my typhoid shot, and other medicines I will need. I was just thinking about how much money to take along. I am staying one night after the research ends so I was wondering how much I should take along. I need to know a few things:

Can I spend American money in Nicaragua?

If I exchange it, what kind of money will I get and what are the increments?

What is the exchange rate?

What is the cost of one night at a hotel in Managua?

What is the average cost for me to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner for my extra day?

I was thinking of taking $100. Based on the information you gathered, is that enough?

You must turn in your own answers, but please send one comment per class with your findings.

Thank you.

See you soon.

Ms C

The Volcano Expedition is about to begin!  I think I have more tech equipment and cords in my suitcase than I do clothes!  It is still unclear how much information I will be able to send on a daily basis through the internet, but in the case that I am able to get my videos to you, they will be found on teacher tube. 

There is a short test clip there now.  Hopefully I will have videos on there next week from the site.  If not, they will be uploaded after I return.

I finally received my briefing for the Research project. So here goes…

Aim of the project:

Masaya is an active volcano and it emits gases that affect the local environment. We will be recording the amounts of gases and aerosols we find in the plant and animal life. The researchers can then suggest actions that can be taken to protect the wildlife. We will generally be working from 7am-8pm each day. My actual itinerary will be given to my students and school and to you upon request.

Local Facts:

Language – Spanish but many speak English as well

Religion – Primarily Roman Catholic

Time Zone: GMT -6hours. ( 1 hour behind Eastern) Daylight savings time begins on March 9 this year. Nicaragua does not observe it, so on the last two days of the trip, I will be two hours behind my students.

Currency: Nicaraguan Gold Cordoba.

Volcano Facts:

1970 feet above sea level

A colony of parrots lives inside the crater

turtles and crocodiles in the nearby lakes

Common Diseases:

Hepatitis A and B

Rabies

Typhoid

Malaria and Dengue Fever

This post is long overdue, but I wanted it to be just right.  I knew for a while that I wanted to go on an Earthwatch expedition.  Then Recently, I was e-mailed by the Education Foundation concerning available grant money.  I filled out my first grant application with the assistance and experience of Dr. Coleman, who had been wanting this for me since she gave me my first Earthwatch catalog.  The purpose of this post is to thank the Education Foundation of Collier County and the donor of the funds publicly.  I will not post the donors name at this time since I am waiting for permission.   

Those of you who have worked with the Education Foundation or other organizations that fund educational persuits know exactly what I am feeling.  Its incredible to me that others are so giving.  a Thank You card somehow doesn’t seem enough to express the gratitude.   The best I can do is pass on everything I do and learn through this experience to every person I can reach. 

It would be less than truthful if I do not also admit that this is a wonderful personal opportunity for me.  It is something I would not have otherwise been able to do.  I will grow professionally and personally from this research project. 

Thank you Education Foundation, the donor of the funds, everyone at Lorenzo Walker Technical High School who is supporting me, and all of my online followers. 

The Big Deal is the what we will learn and what I’ll bring back to the classroom during and after the trip. I will be gathering information using GPS, gas monitoring, and geoelectrical and gravity instruments. I have some BIG Ideas about how these things will tie into some real life lessons on city and economic planning, technology use, and wildlife/ Public land use careers. I will even learn how to take soil and water samples. A dozen careers just flashed through my mind on that one. Biologist, chemist, utilities operations….. If you still don’t see anything for your class, here are some key words from the expedition description:

Recent lava flows, red hot magma, flora and fauna, turtles, crocodiles, parrots, spectacular scenery. I am way too excited about this, please forgive me veteran bloggers….

They finally did it. My Principal, Ms. Johnson and our Media Specialist, Dr. Coleman have gotten me to blog!!! I resisted having my own blog for so long, as they pulled me through Twitter, skype, digital cameras/ video equipment, United Streaming, and countless other technology tools. But the time has come. I will be going on an adventure in March, 2008 and this Blog is part of a much bigger plan to bring the experience into classrooms. I am not certain as I write this what kinds of tools we will use, but my idea is to have anyone who wants to be part of my trip, to be able to participate. The adventure is to Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua with Earthwatch Institute. (Earthwatch.org) I intend to build (over the next few weeks) a network of anyone who wants to join me – teachers, students, curious learners… I will also be announcing on this blog, which other Internet tools I plan on using, so that you can hopefully see me and converse while I am at the site of the volcano.