Getting Your Hands Dirty Field Courses at Athabasca University Robert Holmberg 16 May 2005 Alberta Introductory Biology Association
Mar 31, 2015
Getting Your Hands DirtyGetting Your Hands Dirty
Field Courses at
Athabasca University
Field Courses at
Athabasca University
Robert Holmberg
16 May 2005
Alberta Introductory Biology Association
Robert Holmberg
16 May 2005
Alberta Introductory Biology Association
ScienceScience
= study of real things
in a time frame
= study of real things
in a time frame
BiologyBiology
= study of living organisms
in their natural habitats
= study of living organisms
in their natural habitats
Abstractions of
Biological Reality
Abstractions of
Biological Reality
Abstractions of Biological RealityAbstractions of Biological Reality
1. Live organisms in captivity1. Live organisms in captivity
2. Dead organisms & tissues2. Dead organisms & tissues
Abstractions of Biological RealityAbstractions of Biological Reality
3. Photographs & videos3. Photographs & videos
Abstractions of Biological RealityAbstractions of Biological Reality
4. Drawings & simulations4. Drawings & simulations
Abstractions of Biological RealityAbstractions of Biological Reality
5. Text & oral descriptions5. Text & oral descriptions
Abstractions of Biological RealityAbstractions of Biological Reality
But now a few words about my sponsor …
But now a few words about my sponsor …
primarily distance education continuous enrolments
+ students work at own pace
= asynchronous delivery
www.athabascau.ca
575 courses, 23 degree programs
29,542 students 56,784 course registrations
106 full-time + 161 part-time faculty + 258 part-time tutors
* 2004 data
* 2004 data
Student AgesStudent Ages
<2544%
25-4334%35-44
16%
>456%
Alberta 41%
Ontario 28%
British Columbia 10%
Saskatchewan 5%
Rest of Canada 13%
International 3%
* 2004 data
Student DistributionStudent Distribution
Field ComponentsField Components
Compulsory• BIOL 321:
Wild Flowers• BIOL 345:
Ecology
Compulsory• BIOL 321:
Wild Flowers• BIOL 345:
Ecology
Optional• BIOL 201:
World Ecology*• BIOL 206: Biological
Laboratories*• BIOL 342: Animal
Behaviour*• BIOL 495/6: Biology
Projects
Optional• BIOL 201:
World Ecology*• BIOL 206: Biological
Laboratories*• BIOL 342: Animal
Behaviour*• BIOL 495/6: Biology
Projects
BIOL 321:
• = plant taxonomy• 3-credit, 2nd year• 9-day field workshop• plant collection
Wild Flowers
T. (Lochan) S. BakshiT. (Lochan) S. Bakshi
U of C’s Kananaskis Field Station – Barrier LakeU of C’s Kananaskis Field Station – Barrier Lake
Q: Why go to the mountains for flowers?Q: Why go to the mountains for flowers? A: differences in flowering
dates at different altitudes
A: differences in flowering dates at different altitudes
My question: Why go to the mountains in summer if this is what you get ?
My question: Why go to the mountains in summer if this is what you get ?
started in 1986 held 16 times since
Wild Flowers Workshop
Wild Flowers Workshop
Number of students / year ~12 (range = 8-19)Number of students / year ~12 (range = 8-19)
Workshop = field work …Workshop = field work …
… and lab work.… and lab work.
One limitation = lab spaceOne limitation = lab space
Distribution of Students of BIOL 321: Wild FlowersDistribution of Students of BIOL 321: Wild Flowers
• 3-credit, 2nd year• 4 home labs• 4-day workshop
Home LabsHome Labs
Temperatures and Microclimates
Intra- and Interspecific Competition
Predator-Prey Modeling
Sampling with Quadrats
Temperatures and Microclimates
Intra- and Interspecific Competition
Predator-Prey Modeling
Sampling with Quadrats
Field Ecology WorkshopField Ecology Workshop
Just some dumb bunny
Just some dumb bunny
• first run 1976 as an option for BIOL 201• Ministik Hills Field Study Centre, Tofield• U of C’s Kananaskis Centre for Environmental Research
• first run 1976 as an option for BIOL 201• Ministik Hills Field Study Centre, Tofield• U of C’s Kananaskis Centre for Environmental Research
Field Ecology Workshop
Field Ecology Workshop
now at our headquarters in Athabasca
now at our headquarters in Athabasca
Habitat 1: meadowHabitat 1: meadow
Habitat 2: forestHabitat 2: forest
Habitat 3: lentic (pond & lake)Habitat 3: lentic (pond & lake)
Habitat 4: lotic (river & stream)Habitat 4: lotic (river & stream)
Day by Day Schedule & ObjectivesDay by Day Schedule & Objectives
Day 1: Physical FactorsDay 1: Physical Factors• instruments - precision vs. accuracy• temperature• water/humidity• nutrients of soil & water e.g. N, P, K• wind/current• pH• O2 & CO2
Day 2: Terrestrial ProducersDay 2: Terrestrial Producers• quadrats & transects• productivity• collection & preservation• identification• ecological terminology
Day 3: Terrestrial ConsumersDay 3: Terrestrial Consumers• sampling methods (various nets & traps)• ethics & legalities of collecting• preservation & identification• kinds of consumers• trophic levels
Day 4: Aquatic Consumers & SummaryDay 4: Aquatic Consumers & Summary • sampling methods
• preservation & identification• food chains & webs
Medical Emergencies
Medical Emergencies
Determining Students’ Skills Prior to the WorkshopDetermining Students’ Skills Prior to the Workshop
BIOL 495/6: Biology ProjectsBIOL 495/6: Biology Projects
3-credits each, 4th year = undergraduate thesis student initiated & designed usually external project
supervisor mainly library projects some lab and field projects
3-credits each, 4th year = undergraduate thesis student initiated & designed usually external project
supervisor mainly library projects some lab and field projects
Biology Projects Conducted in the Field
Biology Projects Conducted in the Field
• bee behaviour
• duck nesting
• goose feces
• ptarmigan feeding
• trout populations
• plants of river delta
• bee behaviour
• duck nesting
• goose feces
• ptarmigan feeding
• trout populations
• plants of river delta
Biology Courses at AUBiology Courses at AUBIOL 235 Human Anatomy &
Physiology526 None
BIOL 204 Principles of Biology I 342 Home
BIOL 230 Human Physiology 280 None
BIOL 401 Cell Biology 92 None
BIOL 341 Human Genetics 88 Home
BIOL 205 Principles of Biology II 73 Home
BIOL 325 Microbiology 71 4 day lab
BIOL 345 Ecology 12 4 day field
BIOL 321 Wild Flowers 0 8 day field
BIOL 495/6 Biology Projects 2 Optional
* 2004 data
ContactContactRobert Holmberg
Centre for Science
Athabasca University
Athabasca, Alberta
T9S 3A3
Telephone: 780-675-6203
E-mail: [email protected]
Robert Holmberg
Centre for Science
Athabasca University
Athabasca, Alberta
T9S 3A3
Telephone: 780-675-6203
E-mail: [email protected]