Bio 320- Fundamentals of Ecology
Class Meeting Tues., 8 January 2013

Announcements:

• Introductions
• Textbook
• Labs - will be posted on Canvas
  Tomorrow's lab is already posted
• Reading assignments for class Thursday: -
  •  read syllabus
  • explore links on Canvas
  • read Smith ch. 1
• Labs meet in BH 460; lab this week (TOMORROW) will be OUTSIDE on campus: dress warmly & wear good shoes for ice/snow!

Today's objectives:

1. What do you already know about Ecology?
2. Introduce the subfields of Ecology - hierarchies
3. Course structure & Syllabus
4. Group work & Peer learning
5. Summarize group expectations & consequences to help establish effective group learning
6. Articulate your personal learning goals for the course

   • See the summary of individual goals compiled by you & your classmates!

      

Topic 1:  What do you already know about Ecology?

• On a piece of paper, write down 3-5 things you already know about the field of ecology.
• Compare notes with your neighbor.
• Brainstorm - create a working definition for Ecology
•  
• Step 2: Take the "Ecology Self Test"
• When finished, compare your results with a different partner
• Class comparisons & points of disagreement...

Topic 2:  Ecological Sub-Disciplines

• Ecology, as a branch of the field of Biology, covers a huge range of specific topics -
  •    different scales and perspectives 
• Organization - hierarchies

• Each of the levels in this hierarchy represents a different point of view & a different emphasis
• Some are focused on understanding patterns of distribution and abundance
• Some emphasize processes
• All operate under basic understanding that outside factors form a set of constraints or boundaries within which ecological interactions occur

ACTIVITY:

• Skim one of the news articles on Ecology
• classify the topic in the article into one of the sub-disciplines of ecology listed above
• meet with a partner & discuss/share with class
• Answer these Questions on paper to turn in:
  • Names of partners
  • Article Title
  • Which sub-discipline do you think this article is most focused on?
  • List one or two clues/points made that lead you to that conclusion
  • Are other sub-fields also represented in this article?
  • What intrigued/puzzled/surprised you most about this article?

Topic 3:  Course Structure

• Overview of syllabus
• Sequence of topics

Topic 4:  Group/Team Work

• Value of cooperative learning & team work
• Form cooperative groups with 3-4 people in each
  • Exchange names, emails, phone numbers
  • Select a recorder for today
• Discuss:
  • strengths & weaknesses of each member
  • experience working in groups
  • expectations for group participation & consequences if an individual doesn't meet those expectations
  • positive contributions each person can offer to help meet expectations
  • peer instruction: does it help you learn? how?
• Recorder:
  • summarize in writing the group's responses to above questions
  • each individual agrees & signs/dates.  Recorder, turn in paper at end of class.

   

• Rules of Engagement:
  • Brainstorm classroom rules for effective learning & communication

Topic 5:  Personal Goals for this course

Think about 3 personal goals you wish to accomplish in this course.  By the end of the semester, what do you want to know & be able to do regarding ecology?

Write these goals on a piece of paper to turn in to me - I will compile them and post them on the webpage (anonymously)

See the summary of individual goals compiled by you & your classmates!