Project EDDIE Macrosystems: Assessment

Learning Goals

Our objective is to develop stand-alone, modular classroom activities for undergraduate students that use publicly-available, long-term, and high-frequency datasets to explore the core concepts of macrosystems ecology while developing quantitative literacy.

The Macrosystems EDDIE modules are specifically designed to help students achieve the following pedagogical goals:

1. Improve students' ability to understand and predict how local, regional, and continental processes interact to mediate responses to human activities
2. Gain computational skills through engagement in simulation modeling, computer programming, distributed computing, and the analysis of large datasets
3. Develop hypotheses, conduct inquiry-based studies to test them, and evaluate if their hypotheses are supported or rejected by data

Assessment Process

During 2017-2024, we used pre- and post-module student questionnaires and solicited instructor feedback to assess whether our Macrosystems EDDIE modules were achieving their pedagogical goals. These assessments allowed us to determine whether the modules were helping increase students' understanding of macrosystems ecology and ecological forecasting skills, and helped us to revise the modules to maximize their utility to instructors and students. We found that students who completed Macrosystems EDDIE modules had significantly improved data manipulation skills, an increased understanding of ecological and forecasting concepts, and a greater appreciation for the value of high-frequency environmental data (see Publications).