A science segue is a modeled transition that naturally occurs in the frontier between two scientific disciplines.

Segues can be used as mechanisms to introduce students to a range of sciences while they are studying one particular science.
Ethnobotany Segue to Ecology

for segue forms (.pdf) click below

Student Instructor Evaluator
Segue Developers: Tim & Will

Objectives

  • Demonstrate some of the basic aspects of ecology particularly as they relate to studies of traditional societies.

  • Illustrate broad applications of ecology

  • Develop avenues for students to continue to learn about ecology that lead directly out of the segue experience.

Learning Structure

  • Class-room/Laboratory discussion groups (students will have already watched assigned video presentations)

    • In class students will learn about ecosystems by constructing an `opae `ula aquarium. Students will be asked to think about what influences the interactions within ecosystems, and what factors may disrupt or harm ecosystems.
      　

  • Web-based delivery of information to students:

    • Provide a brief overview of some of the most interesting areas of ecology.

    • Direct students to practitioners of ecology within the University and in the community at-large.

    • Show students specific courses or other educational opportunities that can be used to further explore interests in ecology.

Learning Outcomes

(1 = Most Desired Outcome, 3 = A Desirable Outcome, 5 = Least Desired Outcome)

  1. Students seek more information about studies in ecology, register to take a course in ecology, and become a degree seeking major in ecology.

  2. Students seek more information about studies in ecology and register to take a course in ecology as part of an effort to broaden their education.

  3. Students develop a sufficient (but minimal) understanding of ecology to be able to make decisions about their own career (and inclusion or not of this science). These students are probably better citizens/voters.

  4. Students do not learn anything about ecology.

  5. Students develop a negative perspective about ecology because of the information received through this project.

Ethnobotany Segue Experience

  • During class students will construct their own miniature ecosystem using an `opae `ula aquarium as their model.  Class discussion will address how organisms depend on their ecosystems and how certain factors may cause ecological disturbances.  Students will be asked to think about ecosystem changes that can negatively impact the resident organisms.

Other Science Components

  • Ecology is the scientific study of the distribution and abundance of living organisms and how the distribution and abundance are affected by interactions between the organisms and their environment. The environment of an organism includes both physical properties, which can be described as the sum of local abiotic factors such as insolation (sunlight), climate, and geology, and biotic factors, which are other organisms that share its habitat.

Other Science Practitioners

  • Students interested in learning more about ecology may want to contact Dr. Sam Gon at sgon@tnc.org.

Other Science Courses

  • Students interested in learning more about ecology should consider taking one of the following introductory courses: Biology 123 Hawaiian Environment Science or Biology 124 Environment and Ecology.
    　

  • Students who have taken an introductory biology course may want to consider Biology 265 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology or Biology 301 Marine Ecology and Evolution.

Resources




　

　

　
Funded by National Science Foundation Grant Award Number DUE06-18690