Conservation Central Website

Multiple-award-winning interactive website developed for Smithsonian’s National Zoo where students and families learn the importance of monitoring, restoring and conserving temperate forest habitats locally, nationally and globally for the health and survival of the species within them, and for the valuable ecosystem services they provide. My Role:

• Lead project developer
• Prototype designs
• 7 Flash-based interactive games (concept, interactive frameworks, content)
• Conservation Biology curriculum concept/development
• Family learning activities
• CD-ROM (content , media production)
• Contracted by Brad Larson Media

Design a Panda Habitat – Use your knowledge of giant panda habitat needs to design a habitat at SNZP. Make smart choices and the pandas will come out! Play Design a Panda Habitat.

Judges comments from American Association of Museums MUSE Awards, Media & Technology Committee):

“This website provides a great deal of information about conservation biology, a difficult subject to explain to the general public …presented in a way that highlights the complexities that underlay the science and practice of conservation. A great deal of thought and effort clearly went into this project. Within the site are games that allow visitors to build panda habitats and learn about the factors which determine the survival of species. The jury enjoyed the fact that there was no single “right” way to complete these activities. Especially impressive were the diverse range of material available to educators.”

Judges for Museums and the Web (Archives and Museum Informatics) said:

“Conservation Central is a middle school science teacher’s dream. This is an extremely thorough resource for standards-based learning about conservation and habitats. The activities are well-balanced with both high-tech, extensive Flash interactives and low-tech, simple printout family learning activities.”