Ecology of Fear – One Instructor’s Experience

Course Level and Institution:  Wildlife Biology at Mount Marty College

Step 1: Students are asked to read through the Ecology of Fear module, observe animals in their local environment and write a proposal that outlines initial observations of animal behavior, a testable hypothesis, and an experimental design. Draft is due two weeks after assignment is given.

Step 2: Instructor provides feedback on experimental design. Students revise their plan and start collecting data.

Step 3: After one week, students meet in groups to share project progress and challenges. Groups report out to instructor. Instructor provides feedback and advice.

Step 4: Students bring their initial statistical analyses to share with other students in their research groups. Instructor provides feedback and advice.

Step 5: Students write up their results.