An official website of the United States government
Prairie ecosystems, once expansive across North America, have faced significant degradation and fragmentation due to expanding agricultural development (World Wildlife Fund, 2023). Efforts to survey and restore prairies offer a unique opportunity for applied learning in environmental education. This paper explores the potential of prairie survey and restoration projects to enhance students' applied learning experiences and develop practical skills in ecological research, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable land management. Drawing upon interdisciplinary perspectives from ecology, education, and community engagement, and utilizing flora survey of the John Rushin Teaching and Research Prairie at Missouri Western State University as a model for applied learning, this paper examines the educational benefits of prairie survey and restoration and provides recommendations for integrating these activities into formal and informal educational settings. By engaging students in hands-on activities, we aim to enhance understanding, foster environmental stewardship, and contribute to effective prairie restoration.
more »
« less
Knowing Your Field Community: Elevating the Human Dimension in Ecological Research and Teaching
Synopsis Public health researchers have long been aware of the importance of defining the human community associated with research on environmental health initiatives. However, the field community’s human components where applied ecology research is conducted, e.g. diverse participants and perspectives, are often overlooked in environmental problem solving. We outline a framework for elevating the human dimension in defining the field community in applied ecology research and for teaching diverse undergraduate students the skills needed to address Anthropocene environmental concerns. We promote broadening participation and incorporating cultural and racial perspectives in ecology research planning, implementation, and teaching. We use the environmental research problem of concern to identify the diverse human community groups potentially connected to the problem and guide the strategies for incorporating their perspectives in the proposed research project. Which human community, whether local, ethnic, or visiting public community, affects the resource management strategy, i.e. people protect what they love, can change the outcomes of applied ecological research, as well as promote development of a diverse environmental workforce. Broadening participation and perspectives means that the people asking the research questions are also part of the social ecological community processes who choose which questions to pursue to manage the natural resources of the community. Here, we promote research and teaching practices that consider the long-standing multicultural connections to nature to allow all students to pursue their love of nature and its beauty in a safe, comfortable, and mentoring setting. We integrate current human diversity, equity, and inclusion-focused pedagogical knowledge into the Ecological Society of America-endorsed 4DEE multidimensional curricular framework. We provide a faculty action guide to engage and train diverse students in ecological practices that meet the needs of today’s environmental problem-solving workforce.
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 2225652
- PAR ID:
- 10555037
- Publisher / Repository:
- Oxford University Press
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Integrative And Comparative Biology
- Volume:
- 63
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 1540-7063
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 128 to 135
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
-
Abstract The Institute for Student‐AI Teaming (iSAT) addresses the foundational question:how to promote deep conceptual learning via rich socio‐collaborative learning experiences for all students?—a question that is ripe for AI‐based facilitation and has the potential to transform classrooms. We advance research in speech, computer vision, human‐agent teaming, computer‐supported collaborative learning, expansive co‐design, and the science of broadening participation to design and study next generation AI technologies (called AI Partners) embedded in student collaborative learning teams in coordination with teachers. Our institute ascribes to theoretical perspectives that aim to create a normative environment of widespread engagement through responsible design of technology, curriculum, and pedagogy in partnership with K–12 educators, racially diverse students, parents, and other community members.more » « less
-
This research explores an equity-minded approach to broadening participation in high-impact practices (HIPs) in information systems (IS) education. HIPs have been shown to enhance student engagement, learning, and success for all students with outsized gains for historically underserved groups in the U.S. Despite these salutary benefits, underserved groups often face systemic barriers to authentic access and participation in HIPs. Barriers include non-inclusive and unwelcoming learning environments, faculty beliefs regarding student ability, and outdated teaching practices. To address these challenges, this paper develops a framework for broadening participation in HIPs through “high-impact faculty development” focused on three key strategies: (1) cultivating an equitable and inclusive learning environment, (2) incorporating microaffirmations into everyday teaching, and (3) adopting evidence-based, inclusive teaching practices. By advancing this framework, the research contributes to the growing body of literature on social inclusion in IS education and offers a pathway for broadening participation in HIPs.more » « less
-
Long‐term studies are critical for ecological understanding, but they are underutilized as inclusive opportunities for training ecologists. We use our perspective from the Año Nuevo elephant seal programme along with surveys from community members to propose that long‐term studies could be better leveraged to promote inclusive education and professional development in ecology. Drawing on our experiences as mentors and mentees, we demonstrate how long‐term studies can use their resources, including rich data, robust logistics and extensive professional networks, to improve recruitment and retention of diverse groups of trainees. However, practices such as unpaid labour and unclear expectations limit the utility of these resources for diversifying ecology. We discuss how we have structured our long‐term study to create more inclusive and equitable training opportunities. Acknowledging these transformations required substantial resources, we highlight funding sources and organizational partnerships that can promote investment in long‐term studies for broadening participation.more » « less
-
Broadening participation in computing (BPC) has been a key focus of the National Science Foundation (NSF) for over two decades. Its aim is to support students and faculty from historically underrepresented groups, including women, people with disabilities, and certain racial and ethnic groups. Within these communities, the diverse range of gender and sexual identities remains overlooked in computing education research (CER). To address this invisibility, this panel will discuss the benefits of integrating LGBTQIA+ perspectives. The moderator will provide context, define relevant terms, and set ground rules for discussion. The panelists will offer insights from a variety of perspectives, including: a discussion of the policy landscape impacting LGBTQIA+ students and the importance of incorporating their perspectives as researchers and participants; the erasure of queer history in computer science and advocate for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, considering the humanitarian calling for the field and CS educators in our tech-driven world; the current resistance to supporting LGBTQIA+ scholarship in computing, advocating for an inclusive approach; and finally, the experiences of marginalized individuals in CS education and ways to support them, emphasizing inclusivity through storytelling and personal narratives. The panel aims to increase visibility, understanding, and collaboration between the computing education research community and LGBTQIA+ individuals. By acknowledging and integrating diverse perspectives, we can begin to create a more inclusive, equitable computing landscape.more » « less
- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
-
Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icad036
