Join us at ESA 2015 to kick off an online network that will be focused on testing hands-on, data-driven modules in the undergraduate classroom. Funding is available to support participants’ attendance at ESA.
Dates & Location: Sunday, August 9 from 9AM-4:30PM at the Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. Description: DryadLab is seeking faculty to field test classroom modules during the Fall of 2015. DryadLab is an educational extension of the Dryad Digital Repository, which contains freely available research data from thousands of published scientific papers. DryadLab provides open, high-quality, hands-on, data-driven educational modules suitable for use in undergraduate classrooms, developed by the authors of the original publications in collaboration with experienced educators. DryadLab is joining forces with the Quantitative Undergraduate Biology Education Synthesis (QUBES) project to provide support for field testers via an online network that will facilitate the sharing of resources and expertise. The network will run from 20 July 2015 to 20 November 2015 and will be hosted online at https://qubeshub.org/. Prior to the ESA kick-off meeting, participants will have the opportunity to review materials for four DryadLab modules: 1. Introduction to Extinction and Extinction Bias 2. Survivorship in the Natural World 3. A Walk Through the Woods: Data Analysis of Structural Adaptations in Wood 4. The Beetle Affair Module descriptions are available at: https://qubeshub.org/groups/dryadlabnetwork/dryadlab_module_descriptions During the one-day kick-off, participants will develop a plan for integrating the DryadLab modules into their existing course curriculum. After the in-person meeting, network participants will continue to interact online to refine the modules for their classroom, discuss various implementation challenges, and define strategies to overcome these challenges. Participants will implement these modules in their classroom during the fall and share their experiences with each other. This mentoring network is most relevant for faculty with an interest in learning how to use real data in the classroom. A total of 14 participants will be selected. To qualify, participants must be willing to incorporate at least 2 modules into their course this fall. Participants must also be able to commit ~1 hour per week to online discussions. Additional time outside of these discussions will also be required for independent work on adapting and reviewing modules. DryadLab is able to provide the following support to participants for the one-day meeting at ESA: Regular ESA member early bird registration, 2 nights hotel, flight costs under $500, and lunch on Sunday. To apply, please go to: http://goo.gl/forms/Fs5KD97X4E. Application deadline is June 5th. Accepted applicants will be notified by June 15th. QUESTIONS? Live online Q&A sessions will be held on May 19th, 10-11AM EST, and May 20, 1-2PM EST, at https://qubeshub.org/groups/dryadlabnetwork/q_and_a. Questions can also be directed via email to Samantha Swauger, the DryadLab project manager, at [email protected].
