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CC BY-NC-ND V4.0, Open Access
Thesis
Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions of a Hybrid Field Trip in Natural Resource Ecology
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005280
Abstract
Field trips are an important component in environmental education. In recent times, the ability to provide field trips has been impacted due to the shift to online instruction caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Courses had to remove or create a virtual alternative for the activity. As classrooms return to the physical classrooms a question is raised in how virtual field trips could support physical field trips in a hybrid format. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines, created by the Center for Applied Special Education Technology, provides educators with one possible theoretical explanation for why providing students with both a virtual and physical field trip may support students to learn in ecology. The UDL framework describes both the physical and virtual field trip may be beneficial for students because students will have access to more options for representation and engagement of the field site or activity. Unfortunately, literature on the connections of UDL to physical field trip and virtual field trips in environmental science is sparse. Therefore, the aim of this study was to construct student perceptions of the hybrid field trip and investigate if any relationships exist between the UDL and the hybrid field trip.v
This research was conducted at Washington State University in an online undergraduate course in the School of the Environment, titled Natural Resource Ecology (SoE-300). The course provided a hybrid field trip to students in the spring of 2022. Students’ perceptions were collected from an online survey which included multiple choice and open ended questions. Students expressed mostly positive attitudes and valued the hybrid field trip in the course. Many students believed the hybrid field trip supported their access and ability to learn about the field site. Some students showed a strong preference for the physical field trip. The study found connections between students’ perceptions and UDL, specifically in relation to the principle of representation and engagement. Students believed the hybrid field trip provided multiple means to perceive and comprehend information from the field site. Furthermore, some students believed both options supported their ability to become interested in and engaged with the site.
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Details
- Title
- Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions of a Hybrid Field Trip in Natural Resource Ecology
- Creators
- Aidan Aumell
- Contributors
- Donald McMahon (Advisor)Jonah Firestone (Committee Member)Tariq Akmal (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Teaching and Learning, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 87
- Identifiers
- 99901019838901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis