Dr. Bruce W. Grant
Department of Biology, Widener University
Chester, PA, 19013, office Kirk.200, 610-499-4017 grant@pop1.science.widener.edu

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This page was last modified 1 November 1998, and has been accessed times since 1 Nov, 1998.

ABSTRACT 1999 ANNUAL MEETING, SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY (SICB)
Author: Bruce W. Grant.
Institution: Widener University
Address: Department of Biology, Widener University, One University Place, Chester PA 19013
Tel number: 610-499-4017, FAX: 610-499-4496.
 

Grant, Bruce W. Widener University, Chester, PA.   Using Student-directed Ecological Research as Curriculum in an Introductory Ecology Course.      This paper presents a semester-long student-directed ecological research model as the lab portion of an undergraduate ecology course. I have been developing and assessing this model at Widener University since 1993. Briefly, student teams formulate an ecological research question, design and carry out a field study, co-author a manuscript and poster, present their results at an in-class symposium, submit their manuscript for anonymous review by other class members, review each others' manuscripts, and revise their manuscript for submission to an in-house ecological research journal. In sum, the students DO what ecologists do. For my role, I hold workshops and training sessions on ecological sampling, cooperation, problem solving, statistics, graphics, etc., and I am the 'editor' of the in-house ecological research journal. In sum, I facilitate their research and their communication of it. Since 1994, I have been conducting post-course surveys of student attitudes toward this course. Data indicate that, despite the demands, students felt that this research-oriented course format enhanced their understanding of ecology and the process of scientific thinking. Among- year comparisons of student responses show significant effects of specific course modifications that I have made since 1994 which provide recommendations for others who wish to adopt my lab teaching model.

 

The abstract is Copyright - Bruce W. Grant, 1998.

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      You are welcome to download some or all of the material I have posted at this site for your use in your ecology course. This does not include commercial uses for profit. If you do use any lengthy exerpts (more than 2 lines) of the material above, I request that you formally acknowledge this site and/or sites I have acknowledged as the source(s). I also request that you reciprocate and send me a copy of your ecology materials so that I may see what you have put together.

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