22902600 - Ecology and teaching ecology

- The course will provide students with an understanding of the following topics
- Development of Ecology.
- Evolution, Evolution mechanisms and Speciation.
- Ecosystems and Biomes.
- Climatic changes.
- Relationships among living beings and Ecological pyramids.
- Biogeochemical cycles.
- Biological communities.
- Biodiversity.
- Biodiversity conservation.
- Ecological niches.
- Relationships between organisms and the physical environment.
- Stressors for organisms.
- Landscape ecology.
- Urban ecology.
- Human ecology.
- Ecosystem services.
- Strategies for teaching Ecology.


Studying Ecology and teaching ecology, the student will achieve the following learning objectives.
As regards knowledge and understanding:
- understand the relationships among living beings and between them and the environment, and understand the importance of the ecosystem services.
- realize the need for a sustainable management of natural resources and their preservation.
As regards applying knowledge and understanding:
- discuss and support ideas and concepts related to the relationships among living beings, ecological processes, and interactions between humans and the environment, including the impacts of anthropogenic modifications of ecosystems.
- Use the acquired knowledge on theoretical and applied ecology, for the preparation of educational and didactic projects.
As regards independent thinking:
- acquire an awareness of professional responsibility in terms of environmental ethics.
- motivate and stimulate, through educational means, respect for the environment and life.
As regards communication skills:
- acquire the ability to explain concepts about ecology and the environment using a scientific-technical language in line with the schooling level of the audience.
- promote hands-on and cooperative educational activities concerning environmental issues and topics, using also innovative teaching methods for an effective and wide-reaching communication of ecological concepts.
As regards learning skills:
- show an aptitude towards transmitting the acquired knowledge about ecology, through continuous updates about ecological and environmental issues.
- show openness to discussions and willingness to always improve their own skills and knowledge about ecology and teaching ecology using the available recent literature on the topics.


teacher profile | teaching materials

Programme

The course will be taught using student-centered learning techniques, using various teaching approaches in order to stimulate students with different learning styles. Specifically, these strategies will be applied in the teaching of the topics reported below, integrating both creativity and a sound knowledge of the subject.
Introductory Lesson. Development of Ecology. Evolution. Evolution mechanisms and Speciation. Ecosystems and Biomes. Climatic changes. Relationships among living beings and Ecological pyramids. Biogeochemical cycles. Biological communities. Biodiversity. Biodiversity conservation. Ecological niches. Relationships between organisms and the physical environment. Stressors for organisms. Landscape ecology. Urban ecology. Human ecology. Ecosystem services. Strategies for teaching Ecology.


Core Documentation

Thomas M. Smith & Robert Leo Smith, Elementi di Ecologia, Pearson Editor.
Didactic notes provided by the instructor.

Office Hours: before or after class by appointment by email: valentina.savo@uniroma3.it

Reference Bibliography

Thomas M. Smith & Robert Leo Smith, Elementi di Ecologia, Pearson Editor. Didactic notes provided by the instructor.

Type of delivery of the course

THE COURSE ENTAILS FRONTAL LESSONS. DURING THE FRONTAL LESSONS, THEORETICAL CONCEPTS ARE EXPLAINED USING CLASS DISCUSSIONS AND POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS.

Attendance

THE COURSE ENTAILS FRONTAL LESSONS. DURING THE FRONTAL LESSONS, THEORETICAL CONCEPTS ARE EXPLAINED USING CLASS DISCUSSIONS AND POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS.

Type of evaluation

THE WRITTEN TEST COMPRISES 30 OPEN OR MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS ON GENERAL TOPICS OR ON TOPICS DISCUSSED DURING THE COURSE. EACH CORRECT QUESTION IS EVALUATED 1 POINT, WHILE PARTIALLY CORRECT QUESTIONS ARE EVALUATED AS FRACTIONS OF POINTS. THE STUDENT PASSES THE WRITTEN TEST IF HIS/HER FINAL SCORE IS 18/30 OR HIGHER. THE TIME ALLOWED FOR THE WRITTEN TEST IS ONE HOUR AND 15 MINUTES.