A Field-Based Biomimicry Exercise Helps Students Discover Connections Among Biodiversity, Form and Function, and Species Conservation During Earth's Sixth Extinction

In a first-year seminar on mass extinctions, a field-based, paleontology-focused exercise promotes active learning about Earth's biodiversity, form and function, and the biomimicry potential of ancient and modern life. Students study Devonian fossils at a local quarry and gain foundational expe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of geoscience education 2014-11, Vol.62 (4), p.679-690
Main Author: Soja, Constance M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Active Learning
Anatomy
Biodiversity
Biology
biomimicry
Cheating
College Science
College students
Computer Peripherals
Conservation (Concept)
Controversial Issues (Course Content)
Core curriculum
Course Content
Critical Reading
Death
Discussion (Teaching Technique)
Earth
Extinction
Family Size
First Year Seminars
form and function
Geology
Graduation Requirements
Inferences
Information Literacy
Liberal Arts
Libraries
Organic Chemistry
Outdoor Education
Paleontology
Science activities
Science education
Science Instruction
Seminars
Sixth Extinction
Sustainability
Teaching Methods
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Summary:In a first-year seminar on mass extinctions, a field-based, paleontology-focused exercise promotes active learning about Earth's biodiversity, form and function, and the biomimicry potential of ancient and modern life. Students study Devonian fossils at a local quarry and gain foundational experience in describing anatomy and relating form to biological function. Another goal is to give students a firsthand opportunity to evaluate the fossil record and what it reveals about past mass extinction episodes on our planet. Students who complete this exercise acquire the basic tools for developing and testing hypotheses. They become more skilled at making observations and inferences about familiar species that live in modern environments and about the strange and marvelous creatures that inhabited Earth's lost worlds. Finally, students gain valuable insights into how bioinspired designs can solve human problems in a sustainable way, elevating their appreciation for the value of species conservation as the Sixth Extinction gains traction.
ISSN:1089-9995
2158-1428
DOI:10.5408/13-095.1