Effects of course‐based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) on wildlife students
ABSTRACT A new movement to develop course‐based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) is emerging, although the benefits of such programs have not yet been fully evaluated. We examined effects of a field‐based CURE project on science attitudes, career choice, and perceived knowledge of undergrad...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.810 |
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| _version_ | 1846120173225902080 |
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| author | Elizabeth A. Flaherty Sarah M. Walker Jennifer H. Forrester Merav Ben‐David |
| author_facet | Elizabeth A. Flaherty Sarah M. Walker Jennifer H. Forrester Merav Ben‐David |
| author_sort | Elizabeth A. Flaherty |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT A new movement to develop course‐based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) is emerging, although the benefits of such programs have not yet been fully evaluated. We examined effects of a field‐based CURE project on science attitudes, career choice, and perceived knowledge of undergraduate wildlife students (n = 32) at the University of Wyoming in 2012. In this project, junior and senior students gained practical experience, used their own data to learn various modeling approaches, and disseminated results orally and in written form. We used a mixed‐method study with pre‐ and postactivity surveys and focus group interviews to evaluate the change in student perceptions. Our results illustrate that participation in the CURE project resulted in benefits similar to those reported from traditional undergraduate research experience programs. Participants reported increased understanding of the scientific method, clarification of their career choices, and greater confidence in their perceived knowledge of science. These changes were more pronounced among male participants. Concurrently students gained valuable skills that are required by practicing wildlife biologists. Based on these results it appears that adoption of CURE projects in similar natural resources programs could provide a large number of undergraduate students with equivalent opportunities to those currently experienced by a select few through traditional undergraduate research experience programs. © 2017 The Wildlife Society. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d62fba9a273e4961b3171446a33c7593 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-d62fba9a273e4961b3171446a33c75932024-12-16T13:00:44ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402017-12-0141470171110.1002/wsb.810Effects of course‐based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) on wildlife studentsElizabeth A. Flaherty0Sarah M. Walker1Jennifer H. Forrester2Merav Ben‐David3Department of Forestry and Natural ResourcesPurdue UniversityWest LafayetteIN47907USAScience and Math Teaching CenterUniversity of Wyoming1000 University Avenue, Department 3992LaramieWY82071USADepartment of Elementary and Early Childhood EducationUniversity of Wyoming125 College DriveCasperWY82601USADepartment of Zoology and Physiology and Program in EcologyUniversity of Wyoming1000 University Avenue, Department 3166LaramieWY82071USAABSTRACT A new movement to develop course‐based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) is emerging, although the benefits of such programs have not yet been fully evaluated. We examined effects of a field‐based CURE project on science attitudes, career choice, and perceived knowledge of undergraduate wildlife students (n = 32) at the University of Wyoming in 2012. In this project, junior and senior students gained practical experience, used their own data to learn various modeling approaches, and disseminated results orally and in written form. We used a mixed‐method study with pre‐ and postactivity surveys and focus group interviews to evaluate the change in student perceptions. Our results illustrate that participation in the CURE project resulted in benefits similar to those reported from traditional undergraduate research experience programs. Participants reported increased understanding of the scientific method, clarification of their career choices, and greater confidence in their perceived knowledge of science. These changes were more pronounced among male participants. Concurrently students gained valuable skills that are required by practicing wildlife biologists. Based on these results it appears that adoption of CURE projects in similar natural resources programs could provide a large number of undergraduate students with equivalent opportunities to those currently experienced by a select few through traditional undergraduate research experience programs. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.810career choiceleast chipmunkperceived knowledgeplace‐based educationproject‐based learningscience attitudes |
| spellingShingle | Elizabeth A. Flaherty Sarah M. Walker Jennifer H. Forrester Merav Ben‐David Effects of course‐based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) on wildlife students Wildlife Society Bulletin career choice least chipmunk perceived knowledge place‐based education project‐based learning science attitudes |
| title | Effects of course‐based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) on wildlife students |
| title_full | Effects of course‐based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) on wildlife students |
| title_fullStr | Effects of course‐based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) on wildlife students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of course‐based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) on wildlife students |
| title_short | Effects of course‐based undergraduate research experiences (CURE) on wildlife students |
| title_sort | effects of course based undergraduate research experiences cure on wildlife students |
| topic | career choice least chipmunk perceived knowledge place‐based education project‐based learning science attitudes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.810 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elizabethaflaherty effectsofcoursebasedundergraduateresearchexperiencescureonwildlifestudents AT sarahmwalker effectsofcoursebasedundergraduateresearchexperiencescureonwildlifestudents AT jenniferhforrester effectsofcoursebasedundergraduateresearchexperiencescureonwildlifestudents AT meravbendavid effectsofcoursebasedundergraduateresearchexperiencescureonwildlifestudents |