Innovative Ecology Teaching at Community Colleges

Monday, April 7th at 4PM

An ESA Watercooler hosted by the Education Committee

Some of the most innovative teaching of ecology and environmental science happens at community colleges. Teaching ecology at a community college has its own challenges and special rewards; it is the place where many students first get inspired about the field. Watch as our diverse panel of community college instructors shared examples of effective approaches. Also included are attendees who brought their own experiences and asked questions on teaching ecology and environmental science to community college students and other intro level undergraduate courses.

Who were invited to attend?

Community college instructors, early career ecologists considering a career in community college education, and indeed anyone who is interested in innovative undergraduate education.

Panelists

Tom Langen (Clarkson University, ESA Education Committee), moderator
Brian Shmaefsky (Lone Star College – Kingwood)
Stacey Kiser (Lane Community College)
Christine Girtain (Toms River High School North, South)
Kristen Genet (Anoka-Ramsey Community College)
Katie Benson (Clarkson University, formerly at Harford Community College)
Laura Broughton (Bronx Community College)
Heather Fitzgerald (Community College of Vermont)

Additional Resources

2025 ACUBE (Association of College and University Biology Educators) Meeting in October if you want to present your ideas. Go to https://www.acube.org/Annual.php for more information
CURE = Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience
EDDIE: https://serc.carleton.edu/eddie/index.html
EREN (Ecological Research as Education Network): https://erenweb.org/
NEON National Ecological Observatory Network https://data.neonscience.org/
Research on Leafcutter Ants and the Fungus that they farm: https://www.socresearch.org/
CUREs from the Biological Collections in Ecology and Evolution Network (BCEENET). https://qubeshub.org/community/groups/bceenet
SJC OpenTreeMap (OTM) for Jersey City: https://www.sustainablejc.org/opentreemap
LCC Zoology Research Projects: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/dnuss58gk69u3fhjvg13s/h?rlkey=bab1jep602emwqc4hpseqhsl1&st=zweeks99&dl=0
The Wolbachia Project: https://wolbachiaproject.org/
Snapshot Serengeti: https://www.learngala.com/cases/ea5a07cc-ebbf-4bb7-82a9-b68b821ff15b/.
- You can also see other instructors adaptations and teaching notes here: https://qubeshub.org/community/groups/ocelots/publications?id=4266&v=1 (use an existing dataset)
Land Restoration School: landrestorationschool.org
Beaverland
MICROBIOMETER: https://microbiometer.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqkVEeySHRP0aSBfLU6JDxVEJfRHQX6w6IZWzHu2jgiOBs5aG6l
iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/
https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bes2.2168
USA National Phenology Network: https://www.usanpn.org/
NABT (National Association of biology teachers) https://nabt.org/Events-CESR-Poster-Competition
OSCARS (Outstanding Scholarship, Creative Activities and Research Symposium): https://www.anokaramsey.edu/academics/academic-initiatives/undergraduate-research/oscars/

Innovative Ecology Teaching at Community Colleges