OCELOTS

Description

Overview of Module: 

The module gives us a nice tour of a long-term project in Tropical Rainforest of Costa Rica. In doing so it describes the processes that influence global carbon cycling and explains how different tree species differ in their capacity to capture carbon and mitigate global warming.

Summary of implementation plan and teaching notes:

Instead of implementing the entire module, this time I used only parts of the module. I used chapter 2: Plant- to global-level carbon cycling & Chapter 10: Photosynthesis and Respiration (an exercise). I used these chapters to introduce the concept of Ecosystem productivity (gross and net primary production) to the BSc Forestry II year II semester students during their Forest Ecology class. First, I showed my class the animation video in Chapter 2. Then, I asked them the questions in the exercise in Chapter 10, one at a time. Students were asked to pick the correct answer and explain why they think that the answer they picked is correct. Links to the supplementary powerpoints were provided as additional reading materials.

Normally, I used to provide them the links to the presentations or the literature to read. But this time it was an animation video. The class found the video short and simple, yet very informative and clear.

In my institute, we are used to having one mid-term internal assessment per subject per semester. But the students appreciated the idea of combining a lesson with a quick follow-up exercise, as is done in this module. So, from now on, I will try to replicate this in my other classes as well.

My original plan was to use this module to teach my class how to calculate their personal carbon footprint, but due to the timing of the course, I could not do that this time. So, I am planning to do that in the coming semester.

Overall, it was straightforward to implement the module. However, it would have been lot easier if the overview page of the module could also include some information on the recommended setting for the implementation of module (class room lecture/ group work/ field settings) and time requirements for the implementation of the module (number of lecture hours or so on).

Note: There is a downloadable Teaching Guide at the bottom of the Overview page of the module.

Support was provided by: A grant from the United States National Science Foundation (DBI-RCN-UBE 2120141).

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