Education technology to “discuss” controversial topics in large-

enrollment courses within the natural resources.

John B. Dunning, Jr.

Department of Forestry & Natural Resources

Purdue University

jdunning@purdue.edu

THE CHALLENGE

• FNR 103 (INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION) IS OFTEN TAKEN BY STUDENTS TO MEET A GENERAL SCIENCE REQUIREMENT.

• RESULT: 450+ STUDENTS PER SEMESTER, AND MOST STUDENTS HAVE LITTLE EXPERIENCE WITH THE SUBJECT.

• STUDENTS MAY FEEL ANONYMOUS & DISCONNECTED FROM THE PROFESSOR.

• LEADS TO POOR ATTENDENCE, LITTLE REASON FOR STUDENT TO FEEL ENGAGED.

• NATURAL RESOURCE

CLASSES DEAL WITH CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS & OFFER INSIGHTS INTO CURRENT NEWS.

• HOW DO YOU GET STUDENTS TO DISCUSS and UNDERSTAND THESE ISSUES?

FIRES AT YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, AUGUST 2007

CLASSROOM PERFORMANCE SYSTEM (CPS)

• SINCE 2004, I HAVE BEEN USING EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY CALLED CPS, BY eINSTRUCTION.

• CPS MAKES LARGE LECTURE CLASSES MORE INTERACTIVE & ALLOWS ME TO “DISCUSS” TOPICS WITH THE STUDENTS

COMPONENTS OF CPS

• HARDWARE: RECEIVER THAT ATTACHES TO CLASSROOM COMPUTER. USES RADIO FREQUENCIES.

• SOFTWARE: eINSTRUCTION PROGRAM THAT TAKES SIGNALS RECEIVED FROM STUDENTS, TOTALS RESPONSES & SENDS REPORT TO INSTRUCTOR’S OFFICE COMPUTER.

• STUDENTS: PURCHASE A “RESPONSE PAD,” (“CLICKER”) SIMILAR TO A TELEVISION REMOTE.

RESPONSE PADS

• STUDENTS GO ONLINE TO REGISTER USE OF THEIR CLICKER IN FNR 103. SAME REMOTE CAN BE USED IN OTHER CLASSES, OTHER SEMESTERS.

• PURDUE PURCHASED BLANKET LICENSE, SO NO COURSE FEE.

USE IN CLASS

• WHEN CPS SYSTEM IS TURNED ON, I CAN ASK QUESTIONS.

• STUDENTS USE REMOTES TO ANSWER.

• ANSWERS ARE INSTANTLY TABULATED AND RESULTS SHOWN TO STUDENT FOR IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK.

QUESTION TYPES

• REVIEW OF PREVIOUSLY TAUGHT CONCEPTS, ESP. BEFORE TESTS.

• AFTER TEST, GO OVER QUESTIONS THAT STUDENTS FOUND DIFFICULT.

• USEFUL, BUT BORING!

QUESTION TYPES

• MORE INNOVATIVE:

• QUESTIONS THAT CHALLENGE STUDENT’S “COMMON SENSE”

• CREATE “TEACHABLE MOMENTS” BY USING CPS TO MAKE STUDENTS COME TO SURPRISING REALIZATIONS.

• ASK STUDENTS TO OFFER OPINIONS ON CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS.

RESULTS FROM PREVIOUS SEMESTERS

• FIRES STARTED BY PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALWAYS PUT OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

YES NO

• 2005 61% 34%

• 2006 45% 48%

RESULTS FROM PREVIOUS SEMESTERS

• A FARM CHEMICAL COULD GREATLY INCREASE FOOD PRODUCTION, BUT TINY AMOUNTS CAUSE GENETIC DAMAGE IN FROGS.

2006 2005• We should use the chemical to

reduce world hunger 10% 12%• We should not use it, to keep our

drinking water safe 53% 51%• I don’t care about frogs, but if it harms

humans we shouldn’t use it 26% 29%

RESULTS FROM PREVIOUS SEMESTERS

• WHAT PRICES SHOULD THE FS CHARGE FOR TIMBER HARVEST?

• MAKE A PROFIT 21%• BELOW-COST IS OK 19%• KEEP THE TIMBER

COMPANIES PROFITABLE 18%• NONE – USE LAND FOR

RECREATION 34%

‘CLEAR SKIES INITIATIVE’

• DO YOU SUPPORT GOALS OF 80% REDUCTION BY 2018?

2005 2006

YES 85% 79%

NO 9% 11%• CURRENT GOALS REQUIRE 90% REDUCTION

BY 2010, DO YOU STILL SUPPORT?

YES 46% 36%

NO 52% 58%

BENEFITS OF TECHNOLOGY

• MOST STUDENTS SEEM TO ENJOY THE BREAKS IN THE LECTURE.

• SHOULD INCREASE UNDERSTANDING.

• INCREASES ATTENDANCE.