Internationalize Your Courses with Research-based Online Modules in Tropical Biology

Event Start Date: April 28, 2023 2:00 PM
Event End Date: April 28, 2023 3:00 PM

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Internationalize Your Courses with Research-based Online Modules in Tropical Biology
Dr. Ann Russell, Iowa State University  
April 28, 2023 | 2:00 - 3:00 pm
Newins-Ziegler 376

https://www.nrem.iastate.edu/people/ann-russell

Despite the global importance of tropical ecosystems with respect to regulation of water and carbon cycles and conservation of biodiversity, most ecology learning materials in the U.S. focus on research from the temperate zone and higher latitudes. We posit that when undergraduate curricula include case studies in tropical biology, presented in the full context of their ecological, social and economic complexity, students gain an opportunity to understand the global context for solving complex environmental problems within a framework that includes human dimensions. To address the dearth of educational resources in tropical biology, the OCELOTS (Online Content for Experiential Learning of Tropical Systems) network, an NSF-funded project, brings together tropical biologists with experts in pedagogy, media, and software development. The vision is create a library of online, open-source modules hosted on the Gala platform, with modules based on authentic tropical research that incorporates dimensions of the Ecological Society of America’s 4DEE approach. For additional details or to meet with Dr. Russell, please contact Emilio Bruna embruna@ufl.edu.