New $750,000 NSF Award to Scale Multidimensional Teaching In Ecology

The Ecological Society of America (ESA) is pleased to announce a new award from the National Science Foundation to support its Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) program, Scaling Evidence-Based Multidimensional Teaching in Ecology (IUSE 2540029) effective October 1, 2026.

Coming on the heels of a highly successful launch through the first NSF award for 4DEE between 2021-2026, “This project continues the significant momentum for ecology education by further defining how we teach not just science concepts, but how to meaningfully engage in and apply science to the big challenges we face globally,” said Amanda Sorensen, Michigan State University, co-PI of the grant and chair of the 4DEE subcommittee of ESA’s Education Committee.

In 2021, “We had the framework, a handful of recordings, a couple of brochures describing 4DEE, and no published resources on what 4DEE looks like in the classroom,” noted Teresa Mourad, PI and ESA Director of Education and Diversity Programs. “Now we can continue our journey to strengthen four-dimensional integration in ecology education both at the lesson and the whole course levels”.

*ESA enters this second NSF grant with: 

• 88 faculty who have participated in seven Faculty Mentoring Network (FMN) sessions
• 59 4DEE Education Scholars who have published 64 teaching resources
• 27 videos in the 4DEE YouTube playlist.

We also learned several lessons about providing professional development for our faculty.  “Live events and FMNs are not enough,” said Justin St Juliana, Cornell University, co-PI, with more than 20 years of experience with online courses.  “To greatly expand faculty access to 4DEE, offering brief, interactive & asynchronous online modules is a strong move! I am happy to bring my experience designing online resources into this project.” 

Funded activities. Over the next three years, the new NSF grant will support evidence-based instructional practices and the development of resources with emphasis on how instructors can integrate two or more dimensions in their teaching and assessment. Other activities and products include virtual and in-person community meetings to disseminate new resources; a set of 10-15 online modules that begin with a basic understanding of 4DEE and move learners progressively towards designing more complex multidimensional lessons and assessments.  We will also offer professional development for faculty teams interested in aligning whole courses to 4DEE.

Is 4DEE making an impact on student learning? This is a question faculty have asked over the years. This project will give us the opportunity to collect data from course-based assessments as well as student performance on the EcoEvo-MAPS assessment, which has already been aligned to 4DEE (Smith et al. 2019). “Ultimately, the success of any education reform can be measured in student outcomes,” said Chris Beck, Emory University, co-PI. “We are already hearing stories that 4DEE lessons are well-received by students. Student and faculty data will give us a picture of how 4DEE is effective and why”. 

In addition to the current 4DEE subcommittee** of ESA’s Education committee, the new project pulls together a team of education leaders on the project’s Advisory Board: Tom Langen, Clarkson University, Michelle Smith, Cornell University and Sam Donovan, BioQuest. They will provide expert input on the product design and delivery as well as plans to measure change in faculty adoption of evidence-based multidimensional teaching and student performance.

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*We take this opportunity to thank George Middendorf, Howard University, co-PI, and past Steering Committee members of the first NSF grant for the accomplishments achieved: Shamili Ajgaonkar, College of DuPage; Alan Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies; Carmen Cid, Eastern Connecticut State University, Emeritus; Kaya DeerInWater, American Indian Higher Education Consortium; Ken Klemow, Wilkes University; Luanna Prevost, University of South Florida; Porché Spence, North Carolina A&T State University; Al Kuslikis, American Indian Higher Education Consortium; Anna Monfils, Central Michigan University; Amber Morseau, American Indian Higher Education Consortium

**Current 4DEE subcommittee members: Amanda Sorensen, Chair, Michigan State University; Christopher Beck, Past Chair, Emory University; Luanna Prevost, former chair, University of South Florida; Kim Bjorgo, West Virginia Wesleyan College; Loren Byrne, Roger Williams University; Jennifer Doherty, Michigan State University; Emily Holt, University of Northern Colorado; Justin St. Juliana, Cornell University; Natasha Woods, Moravian University.

Reference Smith, M. K., C. Walsh, N. G. Holmes, and M. M. Summers. 2019. Using the Ecology and Evolution-Measuring Achievement and Progression in Science assessment to measure student thinking across the Four-Dimensional Ecology Education framework. Ecosphere 10(9):e02873. 10.1002/ecs2.2873