Island Ecology for Educators: An Interdisciplinary Course Bridging Science and Education Through Interactive Community Partnerships

Abstract

The authors present a 5-week interdisciplinary summer course, Island Ecology for Educators, designed for both undergraduate and graduate students in the environmental studies and education departments. Students participate in field-based exploration of coastal ecosystem flora and fauna and analyze local environmental issues; they then use these experiences to develop readily accessible, webbased products that feature K-12 integrated lesson plans. The purpose of the course is to (a) provide an overview of the distinct ecosystems found on barrier islands and (b) to create active partnerships where our students interface with a wide variety of community resources, collaborate with local experts in science and education, and engage in peer-to-peer experiential learning. The authors assert that designing field-based courses across university departments can break down the silos that divide academic disciplines and promote interdisciplinary learning.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amy R. Taylor

Amy R. Taylor ([email protected]) is an associate professor, Watson College of Education at University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Dennis Kubasko

Dennis Kubasko, Jr. is an associate professor, Watson College of Education at University of North Carolina at Wilmington.