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The COVID-19 pandemic is causing massive disruptions in higher education. Faculty across disciplines are struggling to quickly transition to virtual classrooms. Nowhere has this been more difficult than in the field sciences, where first-hand experience with the complexity of the natural world is essential for applying classroom learning to authentic settings, developing deep content knowledge and skills, and fostering identity as a field scientist.

Supported by a National Science Foundation RAPID-grant (NSF # 2031815), a team of 50 field stations in 26 states and 6 countries has launched the “Virtual Field Project” this summer to:

1. Create ecosystem exploration videos to teach students to find and observe evidence of key ecological concepts.
2. Host live-streaming cross-site events with researchers to discuss the process of field research with students.
3. Share existing virtual materials and events with faculty at universities across the U.S. produced by a variety of organizations. A virtual field portal will act as a signpost, catalog, and calendar for faculty, students and community.
4. Evaluate the efficacy of virtual field materials to set the stage for further cross-site virtual field learning initiatives

The project emerged from a grassroots effort by the Organization of Biological Field Stations, and is led by Claudia Luke Center for Environmental Inquiry at Sonoma State University, along with Hilary Swain at Archbold Biological Station, and Kari O’Connell of the STEM Research Center at Oregon State University. Through Kari O’Connell’s leadership, UFERN is an important partner on the project.

The Virtual Field Project will continue far beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Multi-site field courses are out-of-reach for many faculty and undergraduates due to logistics, cost and administrative barriers. Field trips created and shared by the Virtual Field Project will give students experience with a diversity of ecosystems around the world, encourage participation by a broader diversity of university courses, and expand opportunities for students with disabilities. The project will also contribute to a vision for effective and meaningful field learning at Field Stations and Marine Labs that includes both virtual and in-person learning strategies. The project is highly collaborative and is seeking to share approaches, resources and ideas with field sites, institutions and initiatives interested in enhancing research, education and connection to the earth. Contact: Claudia Luke, Director, Center for Environmental Inquiry, Sonoma State University lukec@sonoma.edu for more information and to get involved.

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the urgent need for ecology and environmental science instructors and faculty to offer virtual field learning, 50+ field stations and marine laboratories are working together with RAPID funding from NSF to create cross-site virtual field experiences that help instructors teach field observation and research skills to university students.

UFERN is partnering on this effort. 

We are seeking six to ten faculty/instructors who are teaching virtually this summer to help pilot two cross-site virtual field learning resources:

1.    Cross-site ecosystem exploration videos that help students develop observational skills. Students watch 3-min videos comparing multiple marine, terrestrial and freshwater habitats and take field notes comparing species relationships, adaptations, habitat structure, formative processes and human-environment interactions.  

2.    A live-streaming event with researchers at 3 field sites talking with students about multi-disciplinary approaches to field research.

 The time obligation is:

•  talk with us (15 min)
• view six 3-min ecosystem videos and provide feedback (1 hour)
• assign students to use virtual resources during your summer course:  
  • self-directed exercise to discover similarities and differences among habitats (1-hour student assignment)
  • field research-in-practice live streaming event with researchers at 3 field sites (1.5-hour student assignment) 
• give feedback on the educational value of assignments (30 min)  

Your involvement will contribute to the development of meaningful virtual field learning resources available to you and field educators across the country as well as help develop a broader vision of learning opportunities at field stations and marine labs for the future. We thank your for your consideration of our request! If you are interested to help pilot these virtual field learning resources, please contact: Claudia Luke, Director Center for Environmental Inquiry, Sonoma State University. Deadline to express interest is June 10th, 2020.

This webinar presented by Janet Branchaw will introduce a three-step process derived from evidence-based approaches that research mentors and mentees can use together to reassess, realign and reimagine their mentoring relationships to enhance their effectiveness, both in the current circumstances and for the future.

Join us today for ESA’s Weekly Water Cooler Chat

Last week, we talked about virtual field trips — this week, we’re on to assessing online learning. How will it differ from what you’ve done before? In what ways are your assessments the same? How do your assessments reflect meaningful and inclusive pedagogical practices? Join this week’s Water Cooler Chat host, Kaitlin Stack Whitney, Rochester Institute of Technology, ESA Education Scholar, and Peer Mentor of ESA’s current Data Access (Inclusive Pedagogy) Spring Faculty Mentoring Network for engaging conversation with your favorite beverage as your plan for finals.   Friday, April 10, 4:00 PM ET

We had a record-breaking 221 people tune in to our webinar on virtual field trips on April 9th! If you were unable to attend but are still interested, check out the recording of the webinar here to listen to Drs. Ben Kennedy and Jonathan Davidson speak about virtual field trips.

Our second annual network meeting was a success! There were many new faces in attendance, great networking and professional exchange, and the formation of new project ideas to move the field forward. A majority of participants responded in a survey that UFERN colleagues pushed their thinking. Project groups ended the final workday with more clarity and motivated to stay involved. As a result, we now have some exciting projects in the works!

What words did participants use to define what UFERN is about?

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Hot off the press!

Check out the newest report that will be used create conversation within UFERN. The data in the report comes from a 2018 online survey sent out to undergraduate field experience directors.

Landscape Analysis Report

To build community learning and involvement, UFERN will host a series of monthly interactive webinars between May 2018 and April 2019. We will invite speakers and panels of speakers who can help us address topics relevant to our network goals. The webinars will also serve as a forum for working groups to share results of their work and integrate across topics with the network. Please join our mailing list to get more information about the webinar series.

Follow the links to view webinar recordings and references.

SPEAKER	TOPIC and TIME
Dr. Susan Singer, Provost and VP Academic Affairs at Rollins College	“Undergraduate field experiences: Challenges and opportunities” April 26th @ 8:00 am PST

We are pleased to announce the date and location of the inaugural Undergraduate Field Experiences Research Network meeting.

April 30th – May 2nd
Kellogg Biological Station
Hickory Corners, Michigan

For updates and more information, sign up for our mailing list or check the 2018 Network Meeting page.