97th ESA Annual Meeting (August 5 -- 10, 2012)

WK 3 - Integrated Undergraduate Teaching Material for Understanding Ecological and Hydrologic Response From Climate Change In Urban Forests

Saturday, August 4, 2012: 12:00 PM-5:00 PM
M.L. King Jr. Lobby, Oregon Convention Center
Organizer:
Marion Dresner
Co-organizers:
Heejun Chang and Catherine DeRivera
Speakers:
Kerissa Fuccillo and Zoe Bonak
As part of National Science Foundation Curriculum Development grant, we have developed a set of linked interdisciplinary sophomore-level interactive curriculum materials that address ecological and hydrologic impacts of climate change. The interactive effects of global climate change and habitat alteration from urbanization on sustaining biological diversity in urban forests and streams is the theme of the labs. Participants in this workshop will review the set of 16 new labs that involve students in environmental research activities, including experimental design and data interpretation, problem solving, and modeling activities. Phenology, species diversity, water quality and temperature, carbon sequestration, and environmental management are among the topics of these labs. We will highlight one set of activities through an additional field experience in Portland's Forest Park. Analytic, science inquiry, problem solving, and modeling skills are highlighted. Lastly, we will highlight long-term student learning results from the use of these activities conducted over the past two years. Results from the first year of analysis suggest that using these experiential and locally relevant lab materials may have contributed to higher order thinking and increased long term learning retention for our participating undergraduates. We expect to have an open dialogue with the purpose of considering problems and issues in teaching introductory environmental science and physical geography courses, how the new curriculum materials might assist in addressing these issues, and what issue might remain unaddressed by the new curriculum. We seek new university partners interested in utilizing the new materials we have designed, tested, and refined. *** Workshop takes place off site at Portland State University. Attendees will meet in the Convention Center's MLK Jr. Lobby (ticket booth area) for transit to PSU. ***

Registration Fee: $5

See more of: Workshop