During my ARETs @ LTERs experience, I spent four weeks in the summer of 2023 at the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest in Oregon. I worked with research teams led by Dr. Ivan Arismendi (Oregon State University) and Dr. Joe LaManna (Marquette University). Alongside graduate students, technicians, and other teachers, I participated in long-term ecological research. This work included mapping forest plots, documenting understory plant communities, tracking tree growth across elevations, and studying insect emergence near streams. In 2024, after evacuating the Andrews due to wildfire, I continued related research work at Oregon State University and participated in Datapalooza, a conference focused on data literacy and classroom applications.
I translated these experiences into classroom lessons centered on data literacy, long-term datasets, and the realities of scientific research. The experience reshaped my teaching by emphasizing the importance of long-term data and the role of sites like LTERs in making that data possible. It also strengthened my professional learning through collaboration with other educators at ARETs-supported events, including AGU 2023 and the 2025 NSTA National Conference.
Read more about Jacob’s experiences at the Andrews LTER in his blog post: Lessons from Long-Term Data
During his ARET fellowship, Jacob also developed a lesson plan titled: Long-Term Data, Scientific Uncertainty, and the Nature of Science
