PARENT SESSION
Oral Session #50: Ecological Education. Presiding: A. Wallace.
Wednesday, August 8, 2001. 1:00 PM to 5:15 PM. Hall of Ideas L&M.

Using the web to teach ecology.

Buikema, Arthur¹, ¹

ABSTRACT- The objective of this project was to use motivational theory to develop a context based ecology module for the Web. Research indicates that students do better when they learn course content in context, understand the relevance of the subject matter, and can periodically assess what they have learned. Further, motivational research indicates that students learn best when they have choices, have a sense of control, are challenged to think critically, and can collaborate in the learning process. The result was a web-based module on cheetahs (http://bioinquiry.biol.vt.edu/ bioinquiry/). This module has been used successfully with magnet high school students and college students taking introductory biology. The college course had 40 students; fifteen were repeating the course. Pathway analyses were conducted as students used the module. As suspected, students began in an area that was easier, more interesting or familiar to them. As their comfort level grew, they moved on to the less familiar or more challenging sections of the module. Student scores on multiple-choice, fact-based exams were higher than was expected from a traditional lecture course. The overall performance of these students was also higher. Over half the class received an A or B for a final grade. Three students received a D or F. The use of modules based on motivational theory lead to greater student comprehension and understanding of ecological issues.

KEY WORDS: ecology, education, motivation, web