PIREWolf Productions

PIREWolf Productions

This is a new and exciting K-12 outreach program designed to leverage the intellectual and physical resources being generated by the UCI Water PIRE in the area of water sustainability. While some projects will focus on water issues in Australia, others will build on our research expertise to provide innovative and hands-on projects focused around topics in the US. Specifically, this program will:

  • Provide an interactive format for students and teachers to engage outside experts in fields related to material being taught in the classroom.
  • Demonstrate community interest in student learning and success by personally addressing student populations and their lessons/projects.
  • Provide material easily assimilated into curricula and class time in the form of short (3-5 min. videos) covering topics selected by collaborative talks with teachers.
  • Enhance student curiosity in subject matter by stimulating classroom discussions and responding to student questions.
Details & Origin of PIREWolf Productions

We recently participated in a project based learning exercise developed by Blaine Jones, PH at The Academy in Santa Ana. His high school students were charged with preparing for and holding a debate about the fate of the O’Shaughnessy Dam, which created the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite. Students had to learn about the water cycle, how water is managed, and how that management affects different groups of people such as fishermen and hydroelectric power companies.

We developed a complementary program, PIREwolf Productions*, to make videos directly addressing Blaine’s students (aka the Firewolves), discussing several factors that should be considered when deciding on the removal of the O’Shaughnessy Dam (or of any dam or infrastructure) and also answered their questions directly.

At the end of their project, we were invited to watch the ferocious debates held in the Firewolves’ den. The students showed an impressive amount of enthusiasm for their sides and were well-prepared to argue their cases. Firewolves are not to be trifled with! Their energy was contagious and we were delighted to be a part of the event. Our desire is that the Firewolves and all children in our community are not just prepared for the real world, but are encouraged to explore it and leave their own positive mark.

O'Shaughnessy_Dam

We are already working to grow our video library for Firewolves participating in this & other project
based learning exercises with the help of RBF Consulting, CH2M Hill, & other PIRE researchers & friends.

Check out our latest evaluation here!

If you would like to learn more about how PIREwolf Productions can interact directly with your classes please contact us at water-pire@uci.edu

*When students at The Academy were deciding on their mascot they were torn between the phoenix and the wolf. A compromise was reached by creating the Firewolf. Inspired by the Firewolf mascot’s origins and to acknowledge The Academy’s help in the initial development of this program, we decided to call this program PIREwolf Productions. Thank you, Firewolves!

See UCI Water PIRE’s other videos here!