LINKS TO WEB TEACHING RESOURCES

Links to Web Sites on ...

• Ecology 101
• Active Learning and Student Active Teaching
• Improving Lectures and Discussion
• Cooperative Groupwork
• Theories of Learning Styles
• Assessment and Evaluation
• Series of Articles by Richard M. Felder (NC State Univ)
• Faculty Teaching Enhancement Programs
• Forest Simulation Program
• Online Ecological Calculations
• Email Discussion Lists on Teaching and Learning
• SERC Geology Links: Using Data in the Classroom & Teaching at the Entry Level
• Course Related
• Writing
• Education Reports from NSF and NAS
• Teaching Large Classes
• Teaching with Large Data Sets
• Climate Data
• Environmental and Ecological Data
• Food Web Databases

Ecology 101

• Ecology 101 Articles
  [www.esa.org/education/resources_teachers/higherEdu/ecology101-2.php]

Active Learning and Student-Active Teaching

• Summary Table of Student-Actice Approaches
  [tiee.ecoed.net/teach/student-active_teaching.html]
• What is active learning?
  [www.active-learning-site.com)
• Active Learning: Creating Excitement in the Classroom
  [www.ntlf.com/html/lib/bib/91-9dig.htm]
• "Hands On! Notes on Active Pedagogy"
  hosted by the University of Colorado at Boulder, this page was compiled and written by Susanne Moser and Susan Hanson (Clark University) and contains resources on active learning and assessment
  [www.Colorado.EDU/geography/virtdept/library/activeped/activeped.html]
• Math Forum at Drexel University site on teaching issues and strategies
  [mathforum.org/library/ed_topics/teaching_strats]
• Active learning for the college classroom
  [www.calstatela.edu/dept/chem/chem2/Active/index.htm]
• Getting students to think and work in the classroom
  [www.ntlf.com/html/lib/faq/ac-stanford.htm]
• References on Active Learning
  [www.cte.usf.edu/bibs/active_learn/general/bib_general.html#field]
• Resources for Teaching Writing in Engineering and Science
  [www.writing.eng.vt.edu]
• How accurate are our assumptions about our students' background knowledge?
  [www.physiologyeducation.org/abstracts/P239100.html]
• Cognitive aspects of learning and teaching science
  [umperg.physics.umass.edu/library/UMPERG-1992-42]
• Research summaries on active learning
  [www.active-learning-site.com/sum1.htm]

Improving Lectures and Discussion

• Frequently Asked Questions about Discussion
  [www.iub.edu/~teaching/faqdisc.shtml]
• How Better Questioning Leads to Improved Learning; Wait Time
  [www.edvantia.org/publications/index1.cfm?&section=services&area=services&id=653]
• Interactive Lectures
  [www.psy.gla.ac.uk/~steve/ilig/il.html]
• Encouraging Class Discussion
  [teaching.berkeley.edu/compendium/sectionlists/sect10.html]

Theories of Learning Styles

• Learning Styles vs Teaching Styles
  describes 4 learning styles and their relationship to teaching
  [http://www.sosu.edu/cidt/briefs/tb1.htm]
• Learning Styles
  essays and many links by Richard Felder
  [http://www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/Learning_Styles.html]
  [http://www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/Papers/Secondtier.html]
• E-Book: How People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School (1999)
  a publication by the National Academy Press of the National Academy of Sciences Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education.
  [www.nap.edu/openbook/0309065577/html/index.html]
• Commercial online educational site on how people learn
  examines ten different theories on how people learn including: constructivism, behaviorism, piaget's developmental theory, neuroscience, brain-based learning, learning styles, multiple intelligences, right brain/left brain thinking, communities of practice, control theory, observational learning, vygotsky and social cognition, problem-based learning
  [www.funderstanding.com/about_learning.cfm]

Assessment and Evaluation

• "Field Tested Learning Assessment Guide" (FLAG)
  a project of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's National Institute for Science Education (NISE) for science, math, engineering and technology instructors
  [www.wcer.wisc.edu/nise/cl1/flag]
• Douglas J. Eder's "Undergraduate Assessment & Program Review" page
  hosted by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, this phenomenal site contains hundreds of ideas, methods, and resources
  [www.siue.edu/~deder/assess]
• NC State site of internet resources for outcomes assessment
  a large and thoroughly annotated list of teaching resources including links (e.g to discussion groups, archives of articles, accrediting bodies lists of more links, etc.), assessment handbooks, assessment of specific skills or content, individual institutions' assessment-related pages and much more
  [www2.acs.ncsu.edu/UPA/assmt/resource.htm]
• Classroom Assessment Techniques (CATs) - site 1
  [www.celt.iastate.edu/teaching/cat.html]
• CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES (CATs) - site 2 - Collecting Student Feedback
  [www.iub.edu/~teaching/feedback.shtml]

Series of Articles by Richard M. Felder (NC State Univ)

• Navigating the bumpy road to student-centered instruction
  [www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/Papers/Resist.html]
• Active learning: Covering the Material and Large Classes
  [www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/Columns/FAQs-2.html]
• Can I use active techniques and still cover the material?
  [www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/Columns/Quickone.html]
• What's the evidence that these alternative methods actually work?
  [www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/Columns/FAQs.html]
• Evaluating Teaching and Converting the Masses
  [www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/Columns/FAQs-6.html]
• The Warm Winds of Change: The climate for teaching may be changing in Universities
  [www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/Columns/Windso.html]
• We Never Said It Would Be Easy.
  [www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/Columns/Noteasy.html]

Cooperative Groupwork

• Measuring the Success of Small-Group Learning in College-Level SMET Teaching: A Meta-Analysis
  A meta-analysis of groupwork by Leonard Springer, Mary Elizabeth Stane, and Sam Donovan in the National Center for Science Education's online College Level One Resources.
  [www.wcer.wisc.edu/nise/CL1/CL/resource/scismet.htm]
• Small Group Learning Page
  [www.wcer.wisc.edu/nise/cl1/CL/default.asp]
• National Center for Case Studies: Ecology/Environmental Science
  [ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/projects/cases/case.html]

Faculty Teaching Enhancement Programs

• Lilly Conference on College Teaching, Miami University of Ohio, annually in mid-November
  a great first meeting on college teaching
  [www.units.muohio.edu/lillycon/]
• International Alliance of Teaching Scholars (IATS)
  hosts the Lilly conference and several good regional conferences
  [www.iats.com]
• Chautauqua Short Courses For College [Science] Teachers
  About 85 very diverse, three-day courses each year. Supported by NSF.
  [www.chautauqua.pitt.edu]
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Teacher Education Collaborative (STEMTEC)
  hosted by University of Massachusetts Amherst, this program is designed to improve science and math science education by "assuring that new teachers are well prepared in the relevant content and pedagogy"
  [k12s.phast.umass.edu/~stemtec]
• Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL)
  PKAL is an informal national alliance of individuals, institutions, and organizations committed to strengthening undergraduate science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education.
  [www.pkal.org]
• Faculty Institutes for Reforming Science Teaching through Field Stations (FIRST II)
  FIRST II is a national dissemination network funded by The National Science Foundation that provides long-term professional development for life science faculty in teaching and learning. This site includes examples of inquiry based education, case studies, innovative tools for assessment and evaluation, and inquiry based exercises
  [www.first2.org]
• Center for the Enhancement of Science and Mathematics Education (CESAME)
  hosted by Brown and Northeastern Universities, CESAME brings together the resources of teachers, scientists, engineers, and mathematicians in order to improve school children's access to, excitement about, and understanding of mathematics and science
  [www.lab.brown.edu/investigations/]

Forest Simulation Program

• SimForest
  inquiry-based software and curriculum simulates core principles of forest ecology (SimForest)
  [ddc.hampshire.edu/simforest/]

Online Ecological Calculations

• Eco-Tools
  a web-accessible means of performing commonly-needed and useful calculations in ecology and conservation biology
  [eco-tools.njit.edu/webMathematica/EcoTools/index.html]

Email Discussion List on Teaching and Learning Ecology

• Ecological Society of America's ecology education listserv
  The purpose of the EcoEd list serv is to provide a venue for circulating and responding to emerging issues in ecology, environmental science, and science education. This is also a forum in which members can share updates and communication on ecology education programs.
  [http://list.esa.org/mailman/listinfo/ecoed_list.esa.org]

SERC Geology Links: Using Data in the Classroom & Teaching at the Entry Level

• Using Data in the Classroom
  SERC geological site discusses how to engage students with data, why this may improve learning, and how to use technology in the classroom.
  [serc.carleton.edu/usingdata/index.html]
• Teaching at the Entry Level
  SERC geological site gives tips on Field Labs, Interactive Lectures, Case-Based teaching, Peer Review, Role Playing, and Socratic teaching.
  [serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/index.html]

Course Related

• Population Biology, Evolution & BioMath Ed Links
  Internet Guide to Education-oriented Resources for Population Genetics, Population Ecology, Evolution, and Biomathematics
  [www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/4709/]
• Evolutionary Ecology
  A rich site with labs, readings, simulations by Dr. Bill Tietjen
  [cas.bellarmine.edu/tietjen/Ecology_Home.htm]
• Resources for Scientists Teaching Science
  Compiled by Teaching Assistants from Cornell University, University of New Hampshire, and Keene State College and is funded by the National Science Foundation's Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology Postdoctoral Fellowship.
  [instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/taresources/index.html]
  Includes Exam Questions and ConcepTests
  [instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/taresources/exam.html]
• Eric Mazur’s site
  focused on: "promoting active learning in the classroom and pursuing strategies that meet the needs of diverse students."
  [mazur-www.harvard.edu/education/educationmenu.php]

Writing

• "Starting to Write"
  pointers for students from the Purdue University Online Writing Lab.
  [owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_start.html]
• Writing Guidelines for Engineering and Science Students
  hosted by the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech
  [www.writing.eng.vt.edu]
• Paradigm Online Writing Assistant
  tips on organizing, revising, editing
  [www.powa.org]
• Grammar, Punctuation, and Capitalization
  A Handbook for Technical Writers and Editors, by Mary K. McCaskill, Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA.
  [stipo.larc.nasa.gov/sp7084/sp7084cont.html]
• Peer Review of writing
  tips for students and Writing Assignment Ideas; includes long and short, and lab reports. Compiled by Teaching Assistants from Cornell University, University of New Hampshire, and Keene State College and is funded by the NSF's Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology Postdoctoral Fellowship.
  [instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/taresources/peer.html]
  [instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/taresources/wriass.html]
• Biology Writing
  Portland State [http://www.writingcenter.pdx.edu/online_resources/biology_dg.htm]
  Dickinson College [http://www.dickinson.edu/departments/biol/BioWritingGuide/biogdline.html]
  Writing Lab Reports [http://writing2.richmond.edu/training/project/biology/abslit.html]
  

Education Reports from NSF and NAS

• Reinventing Undergraduate Education
  A Blueprint for America's Research Universities. The Boyer Commission on Educating Undergraduates in the Research University, 1998.
  [naples.cc.sunysb.edu/Pres/boyer.nsf/]
• How People Learn: Brain, Mind, and Experience
  Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education The National Academies of Science Press. 1999.
  [http://www7.nationalacademies.org/dbasse/]

Teaching Large Classes

• The National Teaching and Learning Forum's Frequently Asked Questions on College and University Teaching and Learning
  [www.ntlf.com/html/lib/faq/ac-stanford.htm]
• Frequently Asked Questions about Teaching Large Classes
  from Indiana University's Campus Instructional Learning
  [www.iub.edu/~teaching/faqlarge.shtml]
• Indiana University's Teaching Handbook
  Section 1: Preparing to Teach
  [www.iub.edu/~teaching/handbook_1.shtml]
  Section 2: Teaching Methods (includes information on "asking questions")
  [www.iub.edu/~teaching/handbook_2.shtml]
• Research summaries on lecturing
  The Active Learning Site, by Charles Bonwell.
  [www.active-learning-site.com/sum1.htm]
• Active Learning in Lecture
  Kansas State bibliography of books and articles
  [www.ksu.edu/biology/scholar/active_learning_bibliography.htm]
• Examples of Good Practices in Earth Science Teaching and Learning
  UK Earth Science Staff Development Project.
  [www.gees.ac.uk/essd/large.htm]
• Teaching Large Class Sections
  from chapter III of The Penn State Teacher II: Learning to Teach; Teaching to Learn.
  [http://www.schreyerinstitute.psu.edu/pdf/PennStateTeacherII.pdf]
• Facilitating Active Learning in Introductory Science Classes
  John M. Dean, Faculty of Applied Science, University of Canberra, Australia.
  [www.herdsa.org.au/confs/1996/dearn.html]
• Teaching Science Through Inquiry
  [http://www.ericdigests.org/1993/inquiry.htm]

Teaching with Large Data Sets

• Using Data in the Classroom
  A Site for Educators and Resource Developers
  Engaging students in using data to address scientific questions has long been an integral aspect of science education. Today's information technology provides many new mechanisms for collecting, manipulating, and aggregating data. In addition, large on-line data repositories provide the opportunity for totally new kinds of student experiences. This site provides information and discussion for educators and resource developers interested in effective teaching methods and pedagogical approaches for using data in the classroom.
  [http://serc.carleton.edu/usingdata/index.html]
• For Resource Developers
  A special goal of this site is to provide information for those developing data access and manipulation tools that will help them create resources well-suited for educational use. Developers are invited to join the using-data discussion list as a venue for developing dialog with educators who will use their products. The 'For Developers' portion of the site aggregates recommendations from the education community for product development.
  [http://serc.carleton.edu/usingdata/developers.html]
• The NASA project “Data Discovery Toolkit and Foundry”
  a good model for use of large, real-time data sets for inquiry-based learning
  [http://www.newmediastudio.org/DataDiscovery/]

Climate Data

• A Climate Change Atlas For 80 Forest Tree Species Of The Eastern United States
  Anantha Prasad, United States Department of Agriculture, United States Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture, United States Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station
  This is a tree species distribution atlas. It contains information for 80 species in the eastern half of the United States (east of the 100th meridian). The site contains distribution maps and tables for different climate change scenarios, life-history and disturbance attributes, ecological attributes, forest type maps, sorted lists of species importance values (by state and county) for different climate change scenarios, and more.
  [http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/delaware/atlas/index.html] (Archived Version)
• International Research Institute for Climate Prediction / Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Climate Data Library
  This site offers interactive manipulation of data holdings within the Climate Data Library of the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction/ Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (IRI/LDEO). Data searches can be conducted by keywords, by Category, or by the local dataset name. [http://ingrid.ldeo.columbia.edu/index.html]
• Online Trends - A Compendium of Data on Global Change
  This website provides access to online databases containing information on atmospheric gases, specific greenhouse gases, and climatic variables. Each category contains a list of reports or data sets, which are focused on that particular topic. This site offers information that dates back into the 1800's and is an excellent resource for quantifying changing atmospheric conditions.
  [http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/trends/trends.htm]
• Atmospheric CO² concentrations (ppmv) derived from in situ air samples collected at Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii
  Keeling Charles, University of California, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
  Displays the monthly atmospheric concentrations of CO² expressed in parts per million by volume (ppmv) for the years 1958 through 2000. Values are reported in the 1997 SIO manometric mole fraction scale. Missing values are denoted by -99.99. In years where one monthly value is missing, annual values were calculated by substituting a fit value (4-harmonics with gain factor and spline) for that month and then averaging the twelve monthly values.
  [http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/ftp/ndp001/maunaloa.co2]
• NASA GMDC Learning Center
  Lola Olsen, NASA's Global Change Master Directory
  NASA's Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) is an online card catalog of data sets covering just about every scientific area of global change research. The website includes downloadable datasets, models and materials for various aspects of global change and the earth system. Data is grouped by category, including atmospheric, oceanic, geologic and biologic data. Examples of available data are global earthquake data, the carbon dioxide record from the Mauna Loa Observatory and monthly global surface temperature. There are also lists of links to more data from a variety of sources.
  [http://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/Resources/Learning/data.html] (Archived Version)

Environmental and Ecological Data

• Long Term Ecological Research Sites (LTER)
  Data are one of the most valuable products of the LTER program. The goal of the Network is to provide fast, effective, and open access to LTER data. Over 2000 ecological datasets are part of a network-wide information system designed to facilitate data exchange and integration to meet the needs of ecological scientists.
  [http://www.lternet.edu/data/]
• Global scale measurements from Earth Observatory
  includes data sets on primary production, day land temperature, night land temperature, vegetation
  [http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Observatory/]
• Real-Time Water Data
  This site provides access to streamflow. precipitation, groundwater, and water quality data for USGS (United States Geological Survey) streamflow monitoring sites around the United States. The data can be searched using an interactive map or by state.
  [http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt/index.html]
• USGS List of Nonindigenous Aquatic Species
  [http://nas.er.usgs.gov/]
• National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA)
  This United States Geological Survey (USGS) program addresses water quality in the US. The goal is to develop long-term consistent and comparable information on streams, ground water, and aquatic ecosystems to support sound management and policy decisions. The program assesses over 50 river basins and aquifer systems, and helps to inform decision makers about the state of US water resources. Issues addressed include how and why water quality varies across the nation, trace elements, pesticides, nutrients, volatile organic chemicals (VOC's), water protection and management, and human health. This site links the user to articles, maps, data sets, and other sources of information. A glossary defines over 150 water related terms.
  
  This site provides information on both floral and faunal species found in aquatic areas in the United States. It explains what a nonindigenous species is and how the presence of these species may affect the health of natural ecosystems. Users may search the site for specific non-native species by selecting from a list of organisms, then specifying a drainage or region. The quantity and quality of information provided for a species varies depending on the amount of research attention focused on that individual species or type of organism. The home page of this site offers links to recent news and reports regarding the status or discovery of nonindigenous species.
  [http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/index.html] (Archived Version)
• PLANTS Database
  The PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories. It includes names, plant symbols, checklists, distributional data, species abstracts, characteristics, images, plant links, references, crop information, and automated tools. PLANTS reduces costs by minimizing duplication and making information exchange possible across agencies and disciplines.
  [plants.usda.gov/index.html]

Food Web Databases

• Interaction Web Database
  [www.nceas.ucsb.edu/interactionweb/]
• WoW: Webs on the Web
  [galas.sfsu.edu/index_page/wow2.html]