Collections Education: The Extended Specimen and Data Acumen.

Area of Science:

• Biodiversity Science
• Ecology
• Evolution
• Taxonomy
• Systematics
• Organismal Biology

Background:

• Biodiversity scientists require interdisciplinary fluency, including quantitative, computational, and data skills for large datasets.
• Traditional training must integrate modern scientific practices, emphasizing data acumen alongside foundational organismal biology knowledge.
• The emerging workforce needs training that mirrors current scientific conduct and data handling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an open educational resource (OER) that updates traditional plant collection exercises.
• To incorporate best practices for twenty-first-century specimen collection and data management.
• To contextualize activities that build essential data acumen for biodiversity scientists.

Main Methods:

• Development and implementation of an open educational resource.
• Modification of the traditional plant collection exercise.
• Integration of best practices in modern specimen collection and data handling.

Main Results:

• Students gained enhanced skills and content knowledge in plant taxonomy and systematics.
• Participants developed a nuanced understanding of collections-based data resources.
• The OER effectively reinforced foundational concepts in biodiversity science.

Conclusions:

• The extended specimen is crucial for fostering scientific discovery.
• Updated educational approaches are vital for training future biodiversity scientists.
• Integrating data acumen into organismal biology training is essential for scientific advancement.