Xeriscaping: Trainer's Agenda

 Using Integrated Software Packages in the Classroom

Watch and discuss "Living In a Xeriscape" video OR view the following sites and take notes to share with the group.

Water Conservation Office http://www.cabq.gov/waterconservation/xeric.html
Xeriscaping Information http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/xeriscaping

Xeriscape Project is introduced:

• Discuss use of integrated software packages.
• Designate groups of 4-5 participants who develop a company name.
• Hand out Participants' Xeriscape Landscaping packets (Instruction Sheet, RFP from Camino Real School District, Site Worksheet and Specifications, Prospectus, Landscaping Ad, Sample Biography, Sample Drip Plan, Steps in Designing, Steps in Designing 2, and Drip Basics).
• Read and discuss RFP.
  

Create and Administer a Survey

Create a survey to "show evidence of civic input on design elements." This survey should be designed to help your new landscape firm better understand the needs and wishes of the community served by Camino Real Elementary School. Ideally this survey would, of course, cover educators, students, and parents. For today's purposes, your questions should be aimed at teachers only.(Note: Limit your survey to only 10 questions, which can be answered yes or no by the participants). Your questions might look something like this:

I think children need no playground equipment at all. Yes No
I think a swamp area is a neat idea. Yes No

Your survey should be completed and printed no later than 10:35: Multiple copies should be made and distributed to the whole group for completion at 10:45. Be sure to include the (hypothetical) name of your landscaping firm on the survey so that it can be returned to you. Upon receiving all copies of your survey back, use a spreadsheet to tally and graph results. Don't forget to use these results to aid in designing your landscape plan!

Use Participant Xeriscape Landscaping Packet to begin work on project:

• Tally surveys
• Develop company logo
• Develop company prospectus using "Design a Company Prospectus" example sheet

While group work is taking place, send representatives to the following Skills Sessions (Note: Trainers should be ready to present Skills Sessions during the workshop: database, spreadsheet, or paint/draw tools. Trainers should also possess the ability to troubleshoot hardware/software problems at the workshop location.):

• 11:00 - 11:20 Spreadsheets
• 11:20 - 11:40 Paint and draw tools with word-processing
• 11:40 - 12:00 Database searching
  

Develop xeriscape plan and proposal/presentation

At the end of the working period, each firm is to give a ten-minute presentation highlighting their day's work. The presentation should include the following elements:

• Company Logo
• Firm prospectus
• Survey results
• Final landscaping/irrigation plan
  

Bridge to Practice

• A first step in thinking about how to use this kind of approach in your classroom is to find a unit you've already taught successfully and incorporate some of the technology into it.
• A second step is to take a model such as this landscaping unit and work on adapting it to your students.
• Finally, a third step would be to design and develop your own unit, centered on a problem or project that you and your students are interested in.

Assignments

• Using the Bridge to Practice, create and conduct a classroom project to share with the group at next session. If your group is using Digital Portfolios, add this project to participants' portfolios.

Graduate Credit

• See Course Syllabus

Evaluations

• Please have participants fill out a workshop evaluation.
  

Copyright 1999 New Mexico Regional Technology Assistance Program.