Ecological fieldwork enables scientists to ‘listen’ to the natural world. Through standardized observations and measurements, field ecologists study the natural world. The applicants are currently developing a new ecological field course within the Global Sustainability Science (GSS) bachelor program to teach fieldwork skills to our students. To support students in reaching the learning goals of the course, we propose to create knowledge clips for various
field techniques.

Background information

Knowledge clips allow students to learn about the techniques prior to lectures and field practicals (flipped classroom). The knowledge clips can be used in a wide variety of GSS courses. They further ensure that the students apply the correct method in a standardized manner throughout the entire GSS bachelor and also Copernicus’s MSc
courses. A standardized method allows cross-year comparison of data, which increases the useability of data in student projects and for use by non-governmental organizations that can use the data for decision-making or monitoring.

Aims

Create knowledge clips for various field techniques.

Project description

To support students in reaching the learning goals of the course, we propose to create knowledge clips for various field techniques. Knowledge clips allow students to learn about the techniques prior to lectures and field practicals (flipped classroom). This generates time for hands-on work during practicals, so students have time to practically learn the
different techniques under supervision of the tutors before they go out and collect data on their own. Using knowledge clips also frees up lecture time, which allow the lecturers to emphasize aspects related to the design of field research and on how to manage, analyze, and interpret data during lectures. The standardized knowledge transfer over
multiple years allows us to build a database that will be used to teach students data analysis techniques. The use of knowledge clips has proven highly successful in the MSc course Sustainable Food Systems. The students very much appreciated this approach and highlighted that they could always access this resource and could study the material at
their own pace

Results

The knowledge clips can be used in a wide variety of GSS courses, including the new ecological field course, Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation, Integrated Water & Soil Management, Chemistry and the Environment, Regional Integration Project, International Sustainability Field Trip, Consultancy Project and the Bachelor Thesis. Knowledge clips ensure that the students apply the correct method in a standardized manner throughout the entire GSS bachelor and also Copernicus’s MSc courses (e.g., Research in Water Science and Management). We aim for the course to be part of the transdisciplinary collaboration with National Park Utrechtse Heuvelrug (NPUH). NPUH is interested in longterm ecological data in their region. A standardized method allows cross-year comparison of data, which increases the useability of data in student projects and for use by NPUH or other non-governmental organizations that can use the data for decision-making or monitoring.