MAKING CONNECTIONS: The Explore Phase

Hello again to all our supporters, project partners, and fellow enthusiasts of biodiversity science and natural history! It’s been an exciting couple of months since we first introduced the MAKING CONNECTIONS project, and we’re thrilled to share the progress we’ve made since then.

Our work is made possible by the financial support from the Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund, and we thank UBC Vancouver students for this! #UBCTLEF

Making Connections:

Our core development team has spent the summer connecting with Beaty Biodiversity Museum curation staff, UBC biodiversity researchers, students, and several other project partners. From the beginning, we have aimed for this course to reflect the diverse set of values, wants, and needs of not only field experts but also of the students who will be taking new undergraduate courses focused on nature history collections and biodiversity science. In turn, our core development team has aimed to act as a central knowledge gatherer between our many project partners, developing the course in a way that serves all.

The MAKING CONNECTIONS core development team. From left: Riley Plunkett, Jackie Chambers, Mailyn Tran, Fabio Peres-Schneider; Not Pictured: Dr. Bridgette Clarkston. Photo: Derek Tan

A Student-Centered Learning Experience:

Optimizing the student experience and the course’s value and impact has been at the forefront of our minds while developing the course. Our core development team of five includes three current UBC undergraduate students, placing the student perspective at the core of our work. To identify what UBC students want out of a Natural History Museums and Biodiversity Science course our student co-developers hosted two focus groups with UBC students from various faculties and year levels to dive deeper into a wider variety of student perspectives.

 

Discussing optimizing learning experiences with UBC students during one of our July focus groups. Photo: Riley Plunkett

Unveiling Perspectives:

Through our work this summer during Phase 1 (The Explore Phase), of our four-stage development process our team has taken the feedback from our project partners and developed our first draft of units. We’ve also begun synthesizing the feedback from students regarding what makes classes most enjoyable and impactful to share with our field experts as we work with them to guide us in content development. We’re thrilled with the progress the MAKING CONNECTIONS project has made — guided by our passion for education, collaboration, and biodiversity science. In the coming months, expect to hear more about the exciting highlights and progress we’re making as we work diligently to create a course that’s both informative and transformative.

Thank you for your unwavering support, and we can’t wait to continue sharing this incredible journey with you all. Stay tuned for more updates!

Warm regards,

The MAKING CONNECTIONS Team