SEE-U (Structure)
Columbia University
(ENV BIO W2107. section 001)
The course is divided into modules that goes from large scale ecological issues (biomes), progress towards small scale issues (biotic and abiotic processes) and end with a focus on contemporary issues such as global warming. The modules are available on the SEE-U Webpage.
We cover these modules through three main activities, which are explained in more detail below: daily exercises, conservation biology discussions and an individual project. These activities are explained below.
The links to the right will give you a very good idea of what these activities look like.
Daily Exercises
In a typical daily activity, we spend the whole morning in the field collecting data. Although the class goes out as a group, students work in the field in pairs or in groups of three. Each student, therefore, has the opportunity to experience the activity together with another student. We sort the collected material either in the field or in the lab and spend the afternoon analyzing the data. We wrap-up the activity either with a class discussion or a presentation put together by the students.
Conservation Biology Discussions
The "Conbio Discussions" are an opportunity for students to share their opinions and experiences on important environmental issues such as the loss of biodiversity, global warming, and environment justice.
They are exposed to the topic through assigned readings, guess lectures, or off-campus activities. The class is divided in two or three discussion groups and at the end, a representative from each group summarizes what was discussed the whole class.
Individual Projects
During the course, each student has the opportunity to conduct an individual research project. Over the five weeks of the course, each student develops a question and hypothesis, gathers field data, and statistically tests and interprets that data. At the end of the course, students present the results to the group in a conference setting. See the 2007 Student Presentations to get an idea of projects' depth and scope.
