It was a goal of the PCP PIRE to teach at least one formal course each Fall and Spring semester during the five-year period of the NSF-funding. We planned for some of these courses (e.g., Broader Impacts) to become institutionalized at UF (University of Florida).
In order to encourage distance “e-learning,” we anticipated that each PIRE PCP course would be taught as needed via videoconferencing (VTC), with Polycom nodes at UF, STRI and possibly other partner institutions. The goal of the e-learning educational component of the PCP PIRE was to break down geographic barriers: For example, a PCP PIRE student living in Panama could do their field research and related outreach activities in-country while also “attending” UF classes via VTC.
Being a large, diverse multi-college university, UF has many other relevant course offerings in STEM content fields (e.g., anthropology, biology, geological sciences), area studies (Latin American Center, Spanish), and “plus” courses (e.g., journalism and science education), the latter for PCP PIRE students opting to pursue non-traditional theses and dissertations.
2014 Courses
ZOO 6927 (sect. 2B56) and BOT 6935 (sect. 2B57), Fall 2014
Learning goal statement
Participants will learn about the history, theory, relevance, and best practices of broader impacts and related activities through a participatory blended learning environment.
Intended participants:
- Graduate students from any STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) discipline, including (but not limited to) anthropology, astronomy, botany, entomology, geology, science education, wildlife, and zoology.
- Advanced undergraduates.
- Instructors and invited speakers; remote participants (via Adobe Connect)
Instructors:
Bruce J. MacFadden
Distinguished Professor and Curator
Florida Museum of Natural History
273-1937, bmacfadd@flmnh.ufl.edu
David L. Reed
Professor and Curator
Florida Museum of Natural History
273-1971, dlreed@ufl.edu
Course Synopsis
There is an increasing emphasis on the relevance of what a scientist does and how we impact society in general. This is manifested in many ways, for example, NSF now requires “Broader Impact” statements in grant proposals and explicit plans for how these kinds of activities will be accomplished. This course will explore ways in which scientists can increase our impact, particularly to society at large. During this seminar-format course, students will engage in active participation, discussion and dialog via blended learning. The beginning of the course will feature presentations by the instructors and invited (and remote) speakers and preparations for the class project(s). Students’ interests and individual projects will primarily drive the remainder of the course.
Course prerequisites
Graduate student status (other with instructors’ permission)
Class size: limited to 30 registered students
Readings and assignments
There is no text for this course. Weekly assignments include readings, mostly from the primary literature, web research, on-line dialog, and class discussion/presentations.
Evaluation
The final course grade will be based on:
(1) In-class (and/or remote, real-time) participation, including submitting written questions and leading discussions of assigned readings (40 %);
(2) asynchronous, on line participation via social media (30 %); and
(3) development and presentation of either a proposed Broader Impacts plan related to your STEM research, or a group project to be developed during the semester (30 %).
GLY 5786/4930 and ZOO6927/4926
Course Prospectus
This graduate-level course (also available for undergraduate students) will focus on the theme Cenozoic Vertebrates of the Neotropics. Major topics will include:
- History of vertebrates in the New World Tropics,
- Climatic and geologic/tectonic history of the New World Tropics, and
- The Great American Biotic Interchange. It will include lectures, discussion of assigned readings, and student research projects. It also will include field experiences collecting fossil vertebrates in Florida and during a trip to Panama over Spring Break.
Instructors
Jonathan I. Bloch
Associate Curator and Professor
Florida Museum of Natural History
jbloch@flmnh.ufl.edu
Aaron Wood
PCP PIRE PostDoc and Project Manager
Florida Museum of Natural History
aarwood@ufl.edu
Credits
2
Class periods
TBA
Required field trip dates
Panama: March 1-8; Thomas Farm: TBD
Prerequisite
Instructor approval
Class size limit
6
Room
TBA (Place and time will be arranged around students’ schedules)
Grades will be based on
- Leading discussion sessions about assigned reading (25 %)
- Submission of written discussion questions each week (25 %)
- Class & Field Trip attendance and participation (50 %)
Costs
Each student should anticipate about $1,500 (estimated) of funds needed to support the costs of the field trips, particularly to Panama. Some “work for travel funds” grants will be available to defray a portion of these costs, and students should consider other sources of support, as available.
Readings
Mostly articles assigned from the primary research literature and book chapters.
2013 Courses
ZOO 6927 | GLY 6932
Course Prospectus
This graduate-level course will focus on the theme Cenozoic Vertebrates of the Neotropics. Major topics will include:
- History of vertebrates in the New World Tropics,
- Climatic and geologic/tectonic history of the New World Tropics, and
- The Great American Biotic Interchange. It will include lectures, discussion of assigned readings, and student research projects. It also will include field experiences collecting fossil vertebrates in Florida and during a trip to Panama over Spring Break.
Instructors
Jonathan I. Bloch
Associate Curator and Professor
Florida Museum of Natural History
Aaron Wood
PCP PIRE PostDoc and Project Manager
Florida Museum of Natural History
Credits
2
Class periods
TBA
Required field trip dates
Panama: March 5-12; Thomas Farm: TBD
Prerequisite
Instructor approval
Class size limit
6
Room
TBA (Place and time will be arranged around students’ schedules)
Grades will be based on
- Leading one discussion session about assigned reading (20 %)
- Submission of written discussion questions each week (25 %)
- Student research presentation (15 minutes) at end of semester and at Thomas Farm Evening Lectures (25 %)
- Class & Field Trip attendance and participation (30 %)
Costs
Each student should anticipate about $1,500 (estimated) of funds needed to support the costs of the field trips, particularly to Panama. Some “work for travel funds” grants will be available to defray a portion of these costs, and students should consider other sources of support, as available.
Readings
Mostly articles assigned from the primary research literature and book chapters.
2012 Courses
ZOO 6927 (section 4100) | GLY 6932 (section 4895)
Wednesdays (location TBD), periods 9 & 10 (4:05 to 6:00 pm), 2 credits
Intended participants
Graduate students from any STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) discipline, including (but not limited to) anthropology, astronomy, botany, entomology, geology, science education, wildlife, and zoology. Instructors and invited speakers.
Instructors
Bruce J. MacFadden
Curator and Professor
Florida Museum of Natural History
273-1937, bmacfadd@flmnh.ufl.edu.
David L. Reed
Associate Curator
Florida Museum of Natural History
273-1971, dlreed@ufl.edu
Course Synopsis
There is an increasing emphasis on the relevance of what a scientist does and how we impact society in general. This is manifested in many ways, for example, NSF now requires “Broader Impact” statements in grant proposals and explicit plans for how these kinds of activities will be accomplished. This course will explore ways in which scientists can increase our impact, particularly to society at large. During this seminar-format course, students will engage in active participation and discussion. The beginning of the course will feature presentations by the instructor and invited speakers and preparations for the class project(s). The remainder of the course will primarily be driven by students’ interests and individual projects.
No course prerequisites
Class size
Limited to 25 registered students
Readings and assignments
There is no text for this course. Weekly assignments include readings, mostly from the primary literature, web research, and class discussion/presentations. The individual or group project will require “out-of-class” work.
Evaluation (Final Grade)
- Class participation (30 %)
- Submitting written questions and leading discussions of assigned readings (30 %); and
- Development and presentation of either a proposed Broader Impacts plan related to your STEM research, or a group project to be developed during the semester (40 %). No exams.
ZOO /GLY 4926 or 6927
Wednesdays, 6:15 to 8:15 pm, 3 credits
Instructor
David W. Steadman
Curator of Orinthology
Florida Museum of Natural History
273-1968, dws@flmnh.ufl.edu
Course Synopsis
This graduate/undergraduate course focuses in exploring the processes that influence the past & present distributions of organisms, especially vertebrates and vascular plants on islands. We will examine empirical, conceptual, and theoretical information covering classic and contemporaneous concepts of island biogeography such as: adaptive radiation, biotic distributions, colonization, community ecology, dispersal and migration, equilibrium turnover, extinction, human impacts to island biodiversity, island formation, species-area relationships, and vertebrate paleontology. We will study Island Biogeography from a Pacific and West Indian island perspective. The course culminates with a week-long fieldtrip to the Bahamas during the Spring Break 2012 to excavate fossils in limestone caves and to survey modern vertebrate island communities.
Format
Lectures, paper discussions, field trip (Eleuthera Island, Bahamas)
2011 Courses
ZOO 6927 (Section 6744) | GLY 6932(section 049H) | GLY 4930(section 063A)
Mondays and Wednesdays, 9th and 10th period (4:05 to 6:00 pm)
***Instructor’s permission is required
Class size limit
12 (6 via ZOO and 6 via GLY)
Instructors
Bruce J. MacFadden
Curator and Professor
Florida Museum of Natural History
273-1937, bmacfadd@flmnh.ufl.edu.
Course Synopsis
In this seminar-format class students will learn how to design, develop, and evaluate a small multimedia natural history exhibit related to the content of the Panama PIRE project.* While this course will focus on the content of the Panama PIRE (geology, paleontology, biodiversity), the theoretical framework and best practices learned will be generally applicable to other exhibits with STEM content.
Grade
The students’ grade will be based on: classroom assignments (25%); attendance and participation (25%); and a group project-deliverable (50%).
Text
There is no assigned text; readings and related assignments will be taken from the primary literature and web resources.
Location
- Monday, December 5 | Carr 222 | Polycom
- Wednesday, December 7 | 265 Williamson Hall | SKYPE
Postponed
UF Students and Non-UF Students
Apply online at: www.abroad.ufic.ufl.edu
Introduction
The Florida Museum of Natural History offers students an opportunity to earn 6 credits in Panama. This course will capitalize on the current excavations to enlarge the Panama Canal that are uncovering fossiliferous Miocene (15 to 20 million-year-old) and related Neogene deposits. Students will learn about paleontology, geology, and biology as these pertain to an understanding of terrestrial and marine Neotropical biodiversity, past and present.
Highlights
- Have direct experience in the field along the Panama Canal collecting fossils while learning the geological context of these discoveries. Related experience to understand Neotropical biodiversity.
- Develop an individual research or outreach project.
- Learn about the natural history, culture, and geography of Panama.
- Develop and/or enhance in-country Spanish-speaking skills.
- Meet, work along-side, and learn with university students from Panama.
- There is no text; reading assignments will be taking from primary literature and web-based references.
Course Offerings
Choose One:
GLY 4930: Paleontology of the Panama Canal | 6 credits
ZOO 4932: Paleontology of the Panama Canal | 6 credits
Taught by:
Dr. Bruce MacFadden – Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology
Dr. Douglas Jones – Museum Director and Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology
Eligibility
This program is open to all undergraduates with a 3.0 or higher GPA and who are majoring in Geology, Biology, Anthropology, Zoology, or Wildlife Ecology. Other majors may be considered upon review of submitted statement of purpose essay.
Prerequisites
- At least 1 semester of Spanish (2 is best) or demonstration of Spanish competency.
- Geology students will need to have taken historical geology or similar course.
- Biology students will need to have taken organismal biology and/or course with taxonomic content.
Postponed
ZOO 6927 | GLY 6932
Course Prospectus
This graduate-level course will focus on the theme Cenozoic Vertebrates of the Neotropics. Major topics will include:
- History of vertebrates in the New World Tropics,
- Climatic and geologic/tectonic history of the New World Tropics, and
- The Great American Biotic Interchange. It will include lectures, discussion of assigned readings, and student research projects. It also will include field experiences collecting fossil vertebrates in Florida and during a trip to Panama over Spring Break.
Instructors
Jonathan I. Bloch
Associate Curator and Professor
Florida Museum of Natural History
273-1937, jbloch@flmnh.ufl.edu.
Bruce J. MacFadden
Curator and Professor
Florida Museum of Natural History
273-1937, bmacfadd@flmnh.ufl.edu.
Credits
3
Class periods
Tu/Th 6th and 7th periods (12:50 to 2:45)
Required field trip dates
Panama: March 5-12; Thomas Farm: TBD
Prerequisite
Instructor approval
Class size limit
8
Room
210 Williamson (or TBD for video-conferencing with Panama)
Grades will be based on
- Leading one discussion session about assigned reading (20 %)
- Submission of written discussion questions each week (25 %)
- Student research presentation (15 minutes) at end of semester and at Thomas Farm Evening Lectures (25 %)
- Class & Field Trip attendance and participation (30 %)
Costs
Each student should anticipate about $1,500 (estimated) of funds needed to support the costs of the field trips, particularly to Panama. Some “work for travel funds” grants will be available to defray a portion of these costs, and students should consider other sources of support, as available.
Readings
Mostly articles assigned from the primary research literature and book chapters.
ZOO 6927 (section 4100) | GLY 6932 (section 4895)
Wednesdays (location TBD), periods 9 & 10 (4:05 to 6:00 pm), 2 credits
Intended participants
Graduate students from any STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) discipline, including (but not limited to) anthropology, astronomy, botany, entomology, geology, science education, wildlife, and zoology. Instructors and invited speakers.
Instructors
Bruce J. MacFadden
Curator and Professor
Florida Museum of Natural History
273-1937, bmacfadd@flmnh.ufl.edu.
David L. Reed
Associate Curator
Florida Museum of Natural History
273-1971, dlreed@ufl.edu
Course Synopsis
There is an increasing emphasis on the relevance of what a scientist does and how we impact society in general. This is manifested in many ways, for example, NSF now requires “Broader Impact” statements in grant proposals and explicit plans for how these kinds of activities will be accomplished. This course will explore ways in which scientists can increase our impact, particularly to society at large. During this seminar-format course, students will engage in active participation and discussion. The beginning of the course will feature presentations by the instructor and invited speakers and preparations for the class project(s). The remainder of the course will primarily be driven by students’ interests and individual projects.
No course prerequisites
Class size
Limited to 25 registered students
Readings and assignments
There is no text for this course. Weekly assignments include readings, mostly from the primary literature, web research, and class discussion/presentations. The individual or group project will require “out-of-class” work.
Evaluation (Final Grade)
- Class participation (30 %)
- Submitting written questions and leading discussions of assigned readings (30 %); and
- Development and presentation of either a proposed Broader Impacts plan related to your STEM research, or a group project to be developed during the semester (40 %). No exams.