Teaching Field Biology Courses Abroad

 

Guinan, J., K. Nolan, & R. E. Beattie

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2010, Volume 31

Abstract

The three of us have taken students to Belize, Panama, Honduras, and Australia to snorkel on coral reefs and explore terrestrial forests. Although these courses may require a significant time commitment on the part of the faculty, as well as a financial one on the part of the students, we all feel that the benefits reaped by students and faculty alike make the investment well worthwhile. The benefits for students include opportunities to learn about and experience first-hand new habitats filled with unique flora and fauna, to form closer student-mentor relationships with faculty, to interact with people from other cultures and make friends from other countries, to expand their world-view, and to improve their employment opportunities. We believe these experiences can be life-changing for students, and can serve to build their confidence in themselves and their abilities, while learning discipline-specific concepts in a living laboratory. Faculty also benefit in these ways and by having the opportunity to get to know their students to a far greater degree than is possible in a classroom setting. Here we will discuss different approaches to leading short-term study abroad courses, with which we have some experience, and briefly outline some of the logistical considerations for planning a successful course.

Keywords:  study abroad, field courses, tropical biology, coral reefs

University of Delaware (2009)