Using authentic scientific data to improve quantitative reasoning in ecology and evolutionary biology
Author(s): Louise Mead1, Elizabeth H Schultheis1, Melissa Kjelvik1, Alexa Warwick1, Molly Stuhlsatz2
1. BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University 2. Biological Sciences Curriculum Study
1404 total view(s), 591 download(s)
Mead_2017_ESAOralSession.pdf(PDF | 8 MB)- License terms
Description
Background/Question/Methods
Students in the United States consistently lag behind other industrialized countries in terms of science education outcomes, prompting concerns that the next generation of Americans is inadequately prepared to address pressing 21st century socio-scientific issues. To address these shortcomings, the landscape of science education is undergoing a fundamental shift with new reform calling for a focus on students’ ability to analyze and interpret data, use mathematical thinking, and communicate arguments based on evidence. Scientists and science educators are broadly engaged in developing resources to meet these calls for reform.
Results/Conclusions
One such resource, Data Nuggets, brings real data from cutting-edge scientific research to students. Originally developed for K-12 classrooms, Data Nuggets are now being used in undergraduate biology courses, and engaging students with data from experiments in evolutionary biology as well as ecology. We will highlight these resources, discuss challenges to implementation, and present current efforts to evaluate the efficacy of Data Nuggets.
Cite this work
Researchers should cite this work as follows:
- Mead, L., Schultheis, E. H., Kjelvik, M., Warwick, A., Stuhlsatz, M. (2017). Using authentic scientific data to improve quantitative reasoning in ecology and evolutionary biology. QUBES Educational Resources. doi:10.25334/Q4066P