Recommended for: Grades 9-12
Resource: Field Biology
Media Type:
QuickTime Video
Length: 6m 12s
Size: 27.6 MB
"Lessons from the Field" highlights the project-based, real-world approach to teaching science. The video segment follows a high school student who becomes motivated to learn when challenged to design his own experiment, work with professional mentors, and analyze and present his findings. This case study is excerpted from Learning That Works, a three-part teacher video series that explores the educational possibilities and benefits of firsthand applied science.
Teachers' Domain, Field Biology, published September 26, 2003, retrieved on ,
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.eco.fieldbiopdr/
- Background Essay
- Standards
Print Background EssayIn the eleventh grade, students take General Field Biology (GFB) to get a foundation in ecological theory and principles and learn field methods to prepare them for their project-oriented second year. They learn the language of the discipline and become comfortable hearing and using scientific vocabulary. The outdoor environment is the classroom laboratory, and the students work as ecological scientists almost right from the start.
In the twelfth grade, students take Advanced Field Biology (AFB), which is a project-based approach to learning. Students are expected to: 1) complete an authentic project that meets a real community need; 2) work with adult experts from outside the school; and 3) draw on a variety of content areas to complete their work (for example, math, writing, research methods, various scientific disciplines, use of technology, and so on). To achieve these ends, students meet state standards, provide a useful service to the community, and collaborate with a working scientist or land manager. They also work as field scientists, which is what the entire second year is all about.
Advanced Field Biology is primarily a student-driven course. Students design the content and make the important decisions about course structure and assessment. The students' mentors are the content experts for Advanced Field Biology. The teacher is more a pedagogical expert, advising the mentors on effective ways to help students learn.
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Source: Learning That Works: "Lessons from the Field"
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