Incorporating Film, Television, and Photographs into the Natural Resources Curriculum: Using Visual Texts to Create Virtual Field Trips, Provide Historical Perspective, and Construct Case Studies That Underscore the Voices of Stakeholders
Location
Research Meeting Room
Event Website
http://uenr.warnercnr.colostate.edu
Start Date
3-23-2012 4:45 PM
End Date
3-23-2012 5:15 PM
Description
Visual texts provide varied learning experiences for students in natural resources programs, yet they are frequently overlooked as valuable teaching tools. While some may view films (and other visual texts) as simply another form of lecture, they actually hold great potential for engaging students in different forms of active learning. I will highlight some ways in which instructors can use visual texts to promote active learning, globalize their classrooms, and provide historical perspective. As scientists, we engage in a conversation each time we enter into new research. As instructors, we stress to our students that research does not occur in a vacuum; rather, we must always situate our own work in the context of what is already known about a topic. We can model this process by using visual texts to help students engage in the conversation by allowing them to visualize a situation, hear different points of view, and respond directly to individuals they see on the screen. The study of natural resources is global in nature—to fully appreciate the complexity in managing our natural resources we must consider the impact of global forces. Visual texts can act as virtual field trips allowing students to gain greater insight into complex issues, different places, and different positions. In addition, visual texts may serve as virtual labs illustrating both natural resource extraction methods, as well as research and management techniques that students otherwise would be unable to see. Lastly, visual texts provide a window into the past. They document our past actions on behalf of our natural resources, as well as those waged against them. Using before and after images, students can better analyze the impacts of a particular intervention. In this presentation, I will showcase examples of activities that utilize visual texts, highlight some relevant films and images, and provide a list of resources for locating additional visual material.
Incorporating Film, Television, and Photographs into the Natural Resources Curriculum: Using Visual Texts to Create Virtual Field Trips, Provide Historical Perspective, and Construct Case Studies That Underscore the Voices of Stakeholders
Research Meeting Room
Visual texts provide varied learning experiences for students in natural resources programs, yet they are frequently overlooked as valuable teaching tools. While some may view films (and other visual texts) as simply another form of lecture, they actually hold great potential for engaging students in different forms of active learning. I will highlight some ways in which instructors can use visual texts to promote active learning, globalize their classrooms, and provide historical perspective. As scientists, we engage in a conversation each time we enter into new research. As instructors, we stress to our students that research does not occur in a vacuum; rather, we must always situate our own work in the context of what is already known about a topic. We can model this process by using visual texts to help students engage in the conversation by allowing them to visualize a situation, hear different points of view, and respond directly to individuals they see on the screen. The study of natural resources is global in nature—to fully appreciate the complexity in managing our natural resources we must consider the impact of global forces. Visual texts can act as virtual field trips allowing students to gain greater insight into complex issues, different places, and different positions. In addition, visual texts may serve as virtual labs illustrating both natural resource extraction methods, as well as research and management techniques that students otherwise would be unable to see. Lastly, visual texts provide a window into the past. They document our past actions on behalf of our natural resources, as well as those waged against them. Using before and after images, students can better analyze the impacts of a particular intervention. In this presentation, I will showcase examples of activities that utilize visual texts, highlight some relevant films and images, and provide a list of resources for locating additional visual material.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cuenr/9thBiennial/Sessions/26
Comments
Citation: Axel, Anne C. 2012. Incorporating Film, Television, and Photographs into the Natural Resources Curriculum: Using Visual Texts to Create Virtual Field Trips, Provide Historical Perspective, and Construct Case Studies That Underscore the Voices of Stakeholders. UENR 9th Biennial Conference. http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cuenr/9thBiennial/Sessions/26/