Tidbit Title (Topic Area): CONSERVATION, BIODIVERSITY, AND DECISION MAKING
|
Name(s): YVAN DELGADO DE LA F LOR
|
Synopsis (short description of the tidbit):
The purpose of the activity is to make students consider several factors (discussed in lecture and lab during the semester) when it comes to selecting a location for conservation.
|
Context: Biology 1114. Background in ecology and evolution. Ideal class size: 24 (recitation)
|
Learning Goals and Intended Outcomes:
Goals: Our main objective is to challenge students to come up with an argument about allocating funding to a potential national park/reserve using information they had just been provided, and applying what they have learned in previous lectures and laboratory activities.
Intended Outcomes: After learning about population genetics, the species concept, and ecology, they should be able to connect what they have learned throughout the semester and realize how people can use different arguments from distinct perspective to protect what is important to them.
|
Summative Assessment: (aligned to intended learning outcomes)
At the end of the activity, instructor will open the floor to discussion and ask the following questions: Why is population size important? Does the number of species matter? How is biodiversity related to ecosystem services? What are the challenges that biologists face when proposing conservation programs? Is the perception of the public towards species important (protecting butterflies & bees vs. mice and worms)?
|
Formative Assessments/Activities: (aligned to intended learning outcomes) How will students be engaged in activities that help them achieve the learning goals? How will the instructor and student gauge the student progress during the learning process?
Students will have 5 minutes or so to brainstorm and discuss ideas with their teams. Instructor will suggest what lectures and lab exercises they should refer to.
|
Scientific Teaching: How does the activity address scientific teaching with respect to the following themes?
Active learning: -Team work -Team discussion -Standing in front of the classroom to present their plans
Backward Design: -This is a recitation activity that takes place before the actual lab so that they start their lab activity with a better understanding why that particular lab is important. -The goals and outcomes stated above where designed before creating the activity.
Diversity: -The activity was designed from different perspectives including those who care about a park from a human perspective, and those who find nature to have an intrinsic value.
Assessment: -Get into a brief discussion about the challenges of defending their conservation plan (see PowerPoint TA instructions).
|
Instructions for TA: (see PowerPoint)
Why is population size important? Does the number of species matter? And how this is related to ecosystems services? What are the challenges that biologists face when proposing conservation programs? Is the perception of the public towards your species relevant?
Instruction for students: (see PowerPoint)
Conservation Biodiversity Recitation PPT
Recitation FINAL Scores Excel Sheet
Conservation and Decision-Making by Yvan Delgado de la Flor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.