Investigating Ecological Principles using Digitized Natural History Collections Data

In this workshop we will introduce classroom activities, developed by Biodiversity Literacy in Undergraduate Education (BLUE), in which students use biodiversity data to investigate major ecological principles. BLUE’s goals are to bring together communities of biodiversity, data science, and education specialists to identify core undergraduate biodiversity data competencies and standards and develop effective strategies for sustained integration of biodiversity and data literacy education into the undergraduate biology curriculum. BLUE participants have brought some of these strategies into practice by developing example curriculum materials. In alignment with the core content and competencies identified in Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education, the BLUE modules can be used to integrate the scientific process, present biological concepts in a real-life context, and engage students as active participants in science in early foundational courses. Module topics include: coevolution of plants and pollinators, factors influencing animal size, and correlation between species’ distributions and a range of environmental variables. We’ll present an overview of the modules that have been developed, then allow participants to select a module to work through in small groups. Participants will also learn about ongoing BLUE activities and opportunities to get involved. Materials and more information about BLUE will be available on our website: www.biodiversityliteracy.com/ .