June 17, 2013

Location

UNLV Student Union

Start Date

17-6-2013 1:00 PM

End Date

17-6-2013 8:00 PM

Description

Few of the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) students I interact with consider careers in field biology. When asked why, most report they do not know much about field biology because too few opportunities exist. Knowing this, and the importance of attracting students to STEM careers, I solicited input from potential employers and developed a new course called Introduction to Field Biology (BIOL 211). BIOL 211 was approved by the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) during 2012 and I offered it for the first time during the spring semester of 2013. It is a 4-credit lecture/lab course that meets six hours per week. The assessment plan for BIOL 211 is summarized in Table 1. Eleven sophomores and juniors enrolled in BIOL 211 during spring 2013. All maintained 4-14 credits of science and math and most worked an average of 30 hr per week.

Keywords

Biology – Curricula; Biology – Fieldwork – Study and teaching; Biology – Vocational guidance

Disciplines

Curriculum and Instruction | Science and Mathematics Education

Language

English

Comments

File: Poster


Share

COinS
 
Jun 17th, 1:00 PM Jun 17th, 8:00 PM

Challenges and successes in exposing community college students to field work and undergraduate research in a new introductory field biology course at the College of Southern Nevada

UNLV Student Union

Few of the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) students I interact with consider careers in field biology. When asked why, most report they do not know much about field biology because too few opportunities exist. Knowing this, and the importance of attracting students to STEM careers, I solicited input from potential employers and developed a new course called Introduction to Field Biology (BIOL 211). BIOL 211 was approved by the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) during 2012 and I offered it for the first time during the spring semester of 2013. It is a 4-credit lecture/lab course that meets six hours per week. The assessment plan for BIOL 211 is summarized in Table 1. Eleven sophomores and juniors enrolled in BIOL 211 during spring 2013. All maintained 4-14 credits of science and math and most worked an average of 30 hr per week.