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Online but not remote: Adapting field-based ecology laboratories for online learning
Christoph F Richter1, Christopher J Lortie2, Tamara L Kelly2
1Department of Biology University of Toronto Mississauga Mississauga ON Canada.
Ecology and Evolution
|April 26, 2021
Summary
Adapting ecology education for urban students and online learning is essential. A citizen-science approach to field data collection and online collaboration enhances ecological learning experiences and curriculum development.
Area of Science:
- Ecology education
- Environmental science pedagogy
Background:
- Challenges in teaching ecology include urban student populations and the shift to online learning due to COVID-19.
- Connecting students to their environment is crucial for ecological understanding and mental well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To adapt field-based ecology laboratories for online delivery using a citizen-science approach.
- To maintain learning outcomes while addressing challenges of urban students and remote learning.
Main Methods:
- Adapted field laboratories to incorporate data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
- Developed a citizen-science framework for online delivery of ecological data collection.
- Facilitated online collaboration for data analysis and interpretation.
Main Results:
- The adapted approach is simple to implement and maintains the integrity of original learning outcomes.
- Online collaboration fostered the creation of open, curated datasets for use in ecology courses.
- The method proved adaptable to varying student experience levels and resource availability.
Conclusions:
- Citizen-science and online collaboration offer effective solutions for experiential ecology education.
- This approach enhances ecological learning for urban students and supports curriculum development.
- Fosters collaboration among instructors to advance ecology curriculum discussions.
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