SEE-U 2000: Overview

Ecologists have grouped the Earth’s major ecosystems into “biomes”, large-scale environments where similar climates have produced similar biotic communities. A global understanding of biomes is essential for students preparing to address the environmental concerns of the 21st century. Now, thanks to an innovative collaboration between Columbia University’s Center for Environmental Research and Conservation (CERC) and the Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning (CCNMTL), undergraduates from universities around the world will have an opportunity to examine and to compare these biomes through the Summer Ecosystem Experience for Undergraduates (SEE-U)—a digitally networked five-week field ecology program. The SEE-U program supports the development of global understanding and field ecology by allowing students to study individual biomes in local, regional, and global contexts. The materials will be organized to study the processes occurring at these geographic scales at all levels of the ecological hierarchy from individuals to populations, communities, ecosystems, and biomes, culminating in a comprehensive whole-earth analyses. # Approach Most field ecology courses are primarily demonstration oriented and rely exclusively on fieldwork. The SEE-U program is unique among field courses because it emphasizes experimental methods and a constructivist approach and because it integrates the latest digital communication and data collection technology. First, CERC instructors will provide students with the necessary resources and background information that will allow them to answer open-ended questions with hypotheses and methods of their own design. Second, CCNTML will make sure that the investigations of student researchers studying characteristics of a specific biome at one of the field stations are placed in a global context. This will be accomplished through innovative software—designed specifically for the course—and through a digital network that links each of the sites in the different biomes. # Methodology/Activities Students will participate in lectures, fieldwork, laboratory work, and web-based exercises at one of the three sites. Students will also regularly interact with students at the other biomes through a virtual learning platform of networked simulations. Students will work in groups to practice collaborative research. The curriculum will be problem focused, hypotheses driven, and have the scientific method at its center. Students will collect data beneficial to research. Students will be exposed to a diversity of researchers and theoretical orientations. # Novel Aspects Several aspects of the curriculum are unique to the SEE-U program and combine to make it a refreshing alternative to most other ecology field classes. Most of these novel aspects involve how digital tools are integrated with traditional field ecology methods. Global Networking—Students will collaborate across all sites, share data, and work on research projects together. GPS/GIS Training—Students will collect their field data using Geographic Positioning System units and will then input their data into a data repository based on a Geographic Information System computer package that all students will be able to access. Electronic Discussions—At least two online discussion groups will be established. One will discuss the ethical controversies surrounding reintroducing species. The second will discuss whether curtailing human population growth would stop the biodiversity crises. Students from all of the SEE-U biome classes will participate to explore these pressing ecological issues. Data Collection for Cutting Edge Research—Students will collect and enter data into a modifiable database used for several long-term studies. Collected data will include plant distribution, soil profiles, insect diversity, and mammalian behavior. This data will be part of the building stones of a comprehensive ecological database called “eBiome”. eBiome will be made accessible to students and researchers around the world and will involve students in collecting novel, and publishable data. Online Lecture Recordings—Many lectures are either audio or video recorded and may be accessed by the students through the web for repeated viewing. Many of the recordings have images and videos of the subject matter imbedded in them to help clarify the material. All lectures will be based on digital slide presentation technology (such as Microsoft PowerPoint), and forms of these lectures will be made available online. Interactive Webcam—Several sites have both permanently installed and mobile webcams that can be used for long-term monitoring of climate, habitat or animal activity through the web. Independent Research Project—Each student will design, implement, analyze and write an independent project on a topic of their choosing. This will serve as an overall summary of the skills and knowledge that are the centerpiece of this program and will better hone their scientific abilities. Also, there will be bulletin board discussions, online office hours, and an online Glossary, Links to current online articles, online demonstration videos and more…