Ecology students should taste and savor the joys of teaching

Give your college ecology students a taste of the joys of teaching by actually doing it! After school or summer programs are hungry for learning experiences for their kids. With a little training and support, your students can teach them a core ecological principle through hands-on activities. Afterwards, have your students savor the experience, reflecting on themselves as learners, then as teachers, and then as researchers trying to “measure” learning. Students excel at identifying key elements of effective teaching, gain an appreciation for the joys and challenges of education, and build their teaching toolkit for whatever profession they pursue.