BiodivX – Biodiversity Excursion Modules

First year students of environmental science are introduced to biodiversity and systematics using methods established in monitoring projects. The course builds around a set of 3-4 «biodiversity issues» related to species-groups or habitats. Students choose a number of available excursion modules that match with the «biodiversity issue» of their choice, where one module covers a spectrum of 10-20 species of one group in one habitat. They then use interactive self-study material to learn how to classify the key species in a module. During the excursion they identify those species and record the locations using the GPS of their smartphone or another mobile device, very similar to the way data is collected in «citizen science projects». Experts and teaching assistants will be presented to assist with species determination. Half-day data analysis workshops conclude the course: Students interpret the collected data from all the modules relating to their issue, discuss their results in groups and produce short statements for their «biodiversity issue». We will start the project by identifying suitable excursion sites together with biodiversity experts. We will then produce self-study material and integrate available technology for data collection to run a pilot excursion in 2016 and the full course in 2017.

• Habitats and species groups which are chosen based on available expert knowledge, students preferences, clearly definable key-questions on biodiversity aspects and classifiable species.
• Attractive self-study material which allows students to assess whether or not they are ready for the field trip.
• Easy to use technology that enables both teaching staff and students to focus on the main tasks.

In our approach students get to know a broad variety of species through measuring biodiversity as opposed to the classical courses where identification through systematical methods is the main objective. At the same time they generate their own large environmental datasets for subsequent collective analysis through a crowd-sampling approach using standard technology.

• Data evaluation does not yet achieve the desired effect (e.g. individual initiative in formulating biodiversity questions). There is still room for individual preparation for workshops.
• Special conditions in 2020 required individual excursions, which has led to more student enagement in data-collection. We will explore this potential further.

• Preparation materials are appropriate in terms of content and effort
• For many students, the excursions have made biodiversity more tangible.
• Students appreciate the expert knowledge of the lecturers, therefore many would like to see more «storytelling» and less «citizen science» on the excursion.

• Compulsory preparation has proven very successful, students come with the necessary knowledge
• A priority based allocation algorithm allows for more student satisfaction, great programme diversity and coordination of individual schedules with other courses
• Data already addressed on field trip helps students understand the need for complete data sets
• Keep Data analysis simple by using known tools (i.e. Excel)

• Lasst uns raus ETH Globe 1/2017 p. 28-29
• Holucator – Lichens Edition: Targeting small organisms with the HoloLens, ETH Teaching and Learning Fair 2018
• Im Selbstlern-Modus: Exkursionen und Projektarbeiten am D-USYS; D-USYS NEWS 20.4.2020