ERIC Number: EJ1369574
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Apr
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0002-7685
EISSN: EISSN-1938-4211
Available Date: N/A
Improving Eco-Literacy through Service Learning: A Natural History Service Project Case Study
Collins, Christopher R.; Donahue, Lynn
American Biology Teacher, v81 n4 p222-227 Apr 2019
Eco-literacy (knowledge of natural history, and direct observation of the natural world and the organisms it contains) is critical to a holistic understanding of biology. Many undergraduate biology students lack this knowledge and experience, often because of a lack of engagement with the environmental science curriculum. The effectiveness of service learning is well established, but few examples of service-learning projects in the context of natural history education have been published. We describe how we used best practices for the development of a field-based service-learning project in a college-level natural history course. The project was built around established learning goals and was conducted through a partnership with a local state park. Students worked in groups to conduct bird biodiversity surveys and prepared a printed birdwatching guide, which was presented to park staff. The project was linked to a series of assignments intended to maximize academic and personal growth, including a project plan, progress report, and reflection paper. Students reported increased engagement in the course curriculum and an increased sense of the relevance of the course content.
Descriptors: Ecology, Literacy, Service Learning, Outdoor Education, Environmental Education, Assignments, Undergraduate Students, Student Developed Materials, Guides, Animals
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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