Landscape Ecology in Theory and Practice

2001 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 83 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Felix Kienast ◽  
Selina Gosteli ◽  
Thomas C. Jr. Edwards ◽  
Gregor Martius

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are distance learning tools for individualized learning. They allow students to learn at their own pace in a virtual classroom. We describe success and pitfalls of the MOOC Landscape Ecology, designed as an undergraduate University course taught by an international consortium of Professors covering theory and application of the field. The paper describes course performance with summary metrics, illustrates contents and didactic tools, and provides a list of suggestions for instructors who engage in distant learning. We identify the following five key success factors for this and related MOOCs: (1) commitment and passion of an international consortium of lecturers; (2) a sound mixture of theory and practice; (3) numerous field-videos; (4) content and skill-oriented practicums (here using R, GIS, remote sensing); and (5) interactive formats where students discuss and share their opinions. In all runs of our MOOC we experienced some difficulties with peer-assessed writing tasks due to widely differing “review cultures”. The instructor-paced MOOC attracted over 3500 students in 2018 and 2019, and had comparably high completion rates (14% and 11%, respectively), compared to typical MOOC completion rates ranging from 5% to 15%. Completion rates in our self-paced run in 2020 were 8-9% only.


2012 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 74-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbie Witkowski ◽  
Bruce Baker

Abstract In the early elementary grades, the primary emphasis is on developing skills crucial to future academic and personal success—specifically oral and written communication skills. These skills are vital to student success as well as to meaningful participation in the classroom and interaction with peers. Children with complex communication needs (CCN) may require the use of high-performance speech generating devices (SGDs). The challenges for these students are further complicated by the task of learning language at a time when they are expected to apply their linguistic skills to academic tasks. However, by focusing on core vocabulary as a primary vehicle for instruction, educators can equip students who use SGDs to develop language skills and be competitive in the classroom. In this article, we will define core vocabulary and provide theoretical and practical insights into integrating it into the classroom routine for developing oral and written communication skills.


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