This README file contains the introduction and table of contents of the larger companion file, workshop.txt. The larger file is roughly 170 kB in size (that is, 24,000 words or 75 pages long), so you should read this first to decide if you want to retrieve the longer document. Gopher users: the file workshop.txt will appear automagically as a directory of 17 files (the introduction and the 16 contributed papers). Thus, you can select individually the papers you want. If you want more than a few of them, you may prefer to use anonymous FTP in order to retrieve the entire file at once. Anonymous FTP users: even if you don't have a gopher client, the chances are good that you can still use gopher. If you have FTP, then you probably also have telnet; you can telnet to metalab.unc.edu and log in there to use a public gopher client, courtesy of metalab (instructions will appear before the login prompt). For more information, contact Jim Ebersole, jebersole@cc.colorado.edu. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXERCISES AND IDEAS FOR ACTIVELY INVOLVING UNDERGRADUATES IN ECOLOGY CLASSES EDITORS Jim Ebersole and Mike Farris Department of Biology Department of Biology Colorado College Hamline University Colorado Springs, CO 80903 1536 Hewitt Ave. jebersole@cc.colorado.edu St. Paul, MN 55104-1284 mfarris@hamline.edu OVERVIEW The file in this directory contains ideas and exercises for actively involving students in undergraduate ecology classes. By active involvement we mean a learning experience that requires students to think originally, to solve problems, to synthesize, to evaluate arguments, or to be creative. This compilation developed from a workshop in Madison, WI in July 1993 that was led by Jim Ebersole and Mike Farris and sponsored by the Ecological Society of America's Education Section. The bulk of this file consists of ideas and exercises contributed by people after the workshop. In addition, a summary of ideas from group discussions at the workshop is included here. We gratefully acknowledge the ideas of all participants of the workshop and especially those who contributed ideas and exercises to this compilation. ***********************TABLE OF CONTENTS*********************** SUMMARY OF GROUP DISCUSSIONS AT THE MADISON WORKSHOP CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES The Value of Discussion Spenser Cortwright, Indiana University Northwest Summer to Winter Differences in Landscapes Sheila Strawn, University of Oklahoma Writing About Environmental Issues from an Ecological Perspective Kelly McConnaughay, Bradley University Writing Research Proposals Colin Nichols-Orians, Williams College LABORATORY ACTIVITIES Simulated Sampling Larry Spencer, Plymouth State College Ecological Sampling Techniques: A Population Board Approach Mary Benninger-Truax and Martin K. Huehner, Hiram College FIELD ACTIVITIES On Being a Field Naturalist: Organismal Microenvironments Bruce W. Grant, Widener University Sampling Lawn Vegetation Ed Cawley, Loras College Ecological Sampling: Some Field Methods for Detecting Pattern in Nature Bruce W. Grant, Widener University Succession: A Seasonal Wildflower Composition Gwen Pearson, University of Texas at the Permian Basin Vegetation Mapping Jim Ebersole, Colorado College Biological Diversity and Experimental Design Gary Wagenbach, Fred Singer, Sylvia Halkin, and Matt Lee, Carlton College Comparative Aquatic Ecosystem Ecology Bruce W. Grant, Widener University Individual Projects Jane Bock, University of Colorado, Boulder Small Group Research Projects Jim Ebersole, Colorado College Ecological Research Study Bruce W. Grant, Widener University