Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association

Purpose: Supporting Lifelong Learning Hawk Mountain Sanctuary will produce a state-of-the-art online learning center that will serve as an in-depth guide to raptor migration, identification, biology, and conservation, focusing on the 16 species of wild birds of prey, including the bald eagle and the American kestrel, that fly south along the sanctuary ridgetops each autumn. This project presents a comprehensive, compelling, and practical approach to engage learners in the natural sciences through one of the most popular forms of wildlife. The learning center will be the best of its kind, using the latest Web technology to entice visitors and enhance learning. The center will be coordinated with museum exhibits and will include a touchscreen kiosk to introduce museum visitors to the lifelong learning opportunities available at home via the Internet. Major activities of this project include designing concept, content, and storyboarding; constructing the site; testing and evaluation; designing and installing the kiosk; and evaluating the overall project. The overarching goal of this project is to increase education on birds of prey, as measured by site visits and completion quizzes. Administrative tools on the Web site and the kiosk will allow the sanctuary to measure outcomes and site statistics in detail.