PARENT SESSION
Thursday, August 10, 1:30-5:00 pm
COS 95 - Ecological education I: undergraduate teaching
L-2, Lobby Level, Cook Convention Center
Presiders: J Berkson
GIS as a teaching tool in an undergraduate ecology lab.
Simmons, Matthew*,1, Wu, X1, Knight, Stephanie1, Lopez, Roel1, 1 Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
ABSTRACT- A geographic information system (GIS) is a valuable tool in the study of ecological phenomenon, and it may be a beneficial teaching tool as well. Although empirical evidence is rare, results of studies relating impacts of GIS on student interest and conceptual understanding are varied. Some studies have demonstrated an increase in conceptual understanding because students are able to visualize and manipulate data in novel ways, but also a decline in student attitude presumably because of the complexity of the system. In this study, two groups of students enrolled in a field-based undergraduate ecology lab were assessed to determine their attitudes toward the ecology lab and conceptual understanding of habitat features and spatial arrangements. Both groups of students used radio-telemetry equipment to locate fox squirrels fitted with radio collars. One group of students was then provided additional 1300 data points in a GIS to visualize and quantify squirrel locations with respect to relevant spatial features such as trees and buildings. Attitudes and conceptual understanding of both groups of students were assessed prior to and following the lab. Data collected from students enrolled from two semesters indicated mixed results. While attitudes did not change based on exposure to GIS, attitudes did change between semesters, possibly indicating that attitudes are based more on the nature of students' field experience than on the use of GIS. Improvement in conceptual understanding varied between groups and semesters indicating that GIS may improve understanding of some concepts while other teaching methods may be more effective for other concepts.
Key words: Education, Action research, GIS