Reed E. Brotherton

"So You Want to be an Urban Ecologist?" was created by Brotherton for the more than 120 fourth-grade students at Western Valley Elementary School to incorporate technology into the areas of science, social studies and mathematics. Over the years, students have conducted bird protocols on the school's campus and traveled to five different locations in the Phoenix metropolitan area to observe birds that have adapted to living in the Sonoran Desert. Throughout the project, students update their class Web page with observations, anecdotal records, graphic representations and photos from their bird expeditions. With assistance from the ING Unsung Heroes Award, Brotherton plans on empowering students to use the latest in digital technology to create multimedia presentations. By utilizing technology, "So You Want to be an Urban Ecologist?" will provide students with an opportunity to improve their fine motor skills, enhance mathematical thinking, increase creativity and score higher on critical thinking and problem-solving tests. Brotherton lives in Laveen.