NC Zoo Society website wins national award

ASHEBORO - A Web site developed by the North Carolina Zoological Society for the North Carolina Zoo and its field conservation programs has been named by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) as one of the nation's top 20 Internet sites for enhancing learning and curriculum development.

Field Trip Earth (www.fieldtripearth.org) is considered the "best of the best" according to an AASL news release on the awards. The organization annually recognizes "The Landmark Web" sites "for their exemplary histories of authoritative, dynamic content and curricular relevance."

Launched in 2002, Field Trip Earth (FTE) is a conservation education website designed to serve K-12 classrooms. It debuted after receiving a significant grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. Today, the website serves classrooms in all 50 states and in more than 140 countries world-wide.

FTE focuses on wildlife researchers and their work in the field.

More than 75 authors contribute articles, photos and other resources to tell their stories of working on various field research projects around the world: these "field trips" include elephant research in Cameroon, red wolf recovery in northeastern North Carolina, peregrine falcon reintroduction in Minnesota, Mexican wolf recovery in New Mexico and Arizona and many others.

"The task force worked very hard to target websites that support learner-centered, inquiry based curriculum. In the hands of knowledgeable educators, these innovative and versatile Web 2.0 tools and resources can be used to engage and motivate students in the learning process and to develop 21st century skills," said AASL Best List Task Force Chair, Pam Berger.

The American Association of School Librarians, (HTUwww.aasl.orgUTH,) a division of the American Library Association (ALA), promotes the improvement and extension of library media services in elementary and secondary schools as a means of strengthening the total education program. Its mission is to advocate excellence, facilitate change and develop leaders in the school library media field.

The N.C. Zoo Society in the non-profit organization that supports the North Carolina Zoo and conservation. The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Dee Freeman, Secretary; Beverly Eaves Perdue, Governor.

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