Past Activities

2023

How ESA’s 4DEE initiative is transforming ecology education and workforce preparation on campus

October 12, 2023 

ESA hosted a meeting with campus administrators and education leaders for the first time to discuss how faculty and students are benefitting from 4DEE.

 

ESA Annual Meeting: ESA For All Ecologists

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

3:30 PM- 5:00 PM PDT, WK23: Affective Education: Engaging Students’ Personal Connections to Nature and Ecology for Improved Ecological Literacy, Room D136. Organized by Loren Byrne, Roger Williams University; Co-Organized by Marney Pratt, Ph.D., Smith College.

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PDT, OOS 38: Diverse Perspectives on Inclusive Education Using the Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) Framework, Room 251. Organized by Luanna Prevost, University of South Florida, Maria Miriti, Ph.D., The Ohio State University.

1:30 PM- 3:00 PM PDT, INS14: Ecology Education for All Through More Accessible, Interdisciplinary 4DEE Teaching, Room 251. Organized by Loren Byrne, Roger Williams University; Co-Organized by Emily Rauschert, Cleveland State University.

Thursday, August 10, 2023

8:00 AM- 9:30 PM PDT, WK37: Ecology Education for All: Aligning Your Teaching with the Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) and Dimension III Human Environment Interactions (HEI), Room C124. Organized by Justin St. Juliana, Cornell University; Co-Organized by Christopher Beck, Emory University, Leanne Jablonski FMI, Ph.D., Marianist Environmental Edu Center and University of Dayton HSI.

 

2022

ESA’s Water Cooler Chat

Leveraging local environments and cross-cutting themes to implement 4DEE

Friday, April 8, 2022, at 4:00 PM EST

What approaches will position the ecological sciences for continued success as an embedded part of the biological sciences curriculum? How did faculty collaboratively use the Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) framework to help create an instructional alignment for an introductory ecology course? How might a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) leverage the local environment and cross-cutting themes to implement 4DEE? Grab your favorite beverage and join faculty from Rowan University as they share their approach and be inspired to tackle similar initiatives at your home institution.

2021

7th Life Discovery – Doing Science Education Conference

Friday, October 1st, 2021 in Estes Park, Colorado

4DEE Workshop: Using the 4-Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) Framework to Create Learning Opportunities for Non-Majors

Presenters: Vikki Rodgers, Babson College, and Sara Scanga, Utica College

Abstract: What are the key ecology concepts, practices, interactions, and themes all students should learn, regardless of their major? This workshop will begin by briefly introducing the 4DEE framework and then participants will identify which ecology concepts they teach in their non-majors, general education, and introductory classes. Groups will be formed to focus on the concepts identified to be most important for teaching non-majors and these groups will be led through an exercise to create an effective hands-on learning activity integrating the chosen concepts. Groups will be encouraged to finalize the activity and to test it in their own classroom settings. Although the focus of the workshop will be for those teaching non-majors, there will be a group dedicated to teaching majors as well.

ESA Annual Meeting: Vital Connections in Ecology 2021 

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021

11:00-12:00 PM Pacific, OOS15: Integrating Climate Justice Into Ecology Education – Elevating the Human Dimensions of ESA’s 4DEE for a Sustainable Future Organizer: Leanne Jablonski, University of Dayton Hanley Sustainability Institute, Co-Organizer & Moderator: Carmen Cid, Eastern Connecticut State University

Higher education and ngo presenters explore multicultural, local to global, and socio-ecological components of Climate Justice – ensuring equity and environmental justice for disadvantaged groups while achieving sustainable solutions – and how to integrate it into youth and adult initiatives, and ecology education for students, faith groups and the general public.

Wednesday, August 4th, 2021

8:30-9:30 AM Pacific, Inspire9: Vital Connections: Engaging Professional Societies with 4DEE Framework Organizer & Moderator: Kenneth Klemow, Wilkes University, Co-Organizer: Luanna Prevost, University of South Florida  

Representatives from a range of biological and educational societies share ideas about how their organizations can benefit from – and help advance – the ESA’s Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) framework. 

1:30-2:30 PM Pacific, OOS30: Expanding the Field in Fieldwork: Connecting the Practice of Fieldwork with the Human Dimensions of the 4DEE Framework Organizer: Luanna Prevost, University of South Florida, Co-organizers: Alan Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies; George Middendorf, Howard University; Kari O’Connell, Oregon State University, Moderator: Charles Nilon, University of Missouri   

This session will provide diverse examples for combining the practice of fieldwork with the human dimension of ESA’s 4DEE framework to extend our definition of fieldwork, expand the locations in which fieldwork is taught, and broaden participation in ecology. 

2:30-3:30 PM Pacific, OOS33: Energizing Ecology Faculty Mentoring Networks with ESA’s Four-Dimensional Ecology Education Curricular Framework  Organizer: Carmen R. Cid, Eastern Connecticut State University, Co-organizers: Jennifer Doherty, University of Washington; Alan Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies; Kenneth Klemlow, Wilkes University; George Middendorf, Howard University; Luanna Prevost, University of South Florida; Vikki Rodgers, Babson College; Amanda Sorensen, Michigan State University, Moderator: Luanna Prevost, University of South Florida  

The ESA Four-Dimensional Ecology Education Task Force proposes to strategically connect existing faculty mentoring networks of a nationally diverse group of ESA members focused on innovating undergraduate ecology education, to enhance ecological literacy, and promote the effective training of today’s sustainability-centered environmental workforce.  

6:30 PM Pacific: 4DEE Networking Mixer

Come to the Four-Dimensional Ecology Education Framework (4DEE) mixer for conversation and networking with other ecologists interested in education and aligning their teaching to 4DEE.

Thursday, August 5th, 2021

12:00-1:30 PM Pacific, Workshop14: Aligning Your Teaching with the Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) Framework Organizer: Justin St. Juliana, Cornell University

In this workshop, you will work with a tool that helps evaluate the alignment of your teaching with 4DEE. You will discuss your teaching alignment with fellow ecologists. This will include sharing your best practices, as well as discovering new ways to align your teaching with the 4DEE Framework.

Friday, August 6th, 2021

7:00-8:30 AM Pacific, Workshop19: Assess What’s Important: Creating Assessments That Show How Students Use their Ecological Knowledge  Organizer: Luanna Prevost, University of South Florida, Co-organizers: Diane Ebert-May, Michigan State University; Jennifer Doherty, University of Washington; Amanda Sorensen, Michigan State University 

During this workshop, participants will engage in groups to redesign and develop open-ended and multiple-choice assessment questions aligned with the 4DEE framework and course learning objectives.  

1:30-2:30 PM Pacific, Workshop25: Convert Your Ecology Teaching Activities to the 4DEE Format Organizer: Kenneth Klemow, Wilkes University, Co-organizers: Jennifer Doherty, University of Washington; Alan Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies; Kenneth Klemlow, Wilkes University; George Middendorf, Howard University; Luanna Prevost, University of South Florida; Vikki Rodgers, Babson College; Amanda Sorensen, Michigan State University, Carmen R. Cid, Eastern Connecticut State University

This workshop will equip attendees with the knowledge and skills to convert their laboratory exercises or other active learning resources into the ESA’s Four-Dimensional Ecology Education framework, and to disseminate their converted exercise through the EcoEd Digital Library.

 

Water Cooler Chats on 4DEE

Spring 2021 featured a four-part series on topics related to incorporating the 4DEE Framework into your classroom. Resources and recordings shared during each session can be found in the links below.

–   What is 4DEE and What Would You Like to Know About It?

–   4DEE Water Cooler: Turning Field Exercises and Courses in 4D

–   Active Learning, Lectures, and Student Outcomes in 4D

–   Bringing 4DEE to TIEE: A Case Study

2020

4DEE Showcase events during the Life Discovery – Doing Science Biology Education Conference

For more information about the event dates and times, please visit www.ldc.org 

KEYNOTE Oct 22, 2020~  11:15 am – 12:15 pm EDT

Keynote Speakers, Ken Klemow and Luanna Prevost on
Ecology Education goes 4D.

 

Daily 4DEE Showcase ~ 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm EDT

Each day, the 4DEE Showcase presents practical ideas, examples and tools to create four-dimensional learning experiences that weave together core ecological concepts, ecology practices, human-environment interactions and cross-cutting themes. All showcase presentations are from 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm EDT daily.

October 22, 2020 Fostering interdisciplinary thinking through lessons that follow the 4DEE approach

Speakers: George Middendorf,  Howard University,  Ken Klemow, Wilkes University, Vikki Rodgers, Babson College

A meaningful integration of 4DEE multidimensional approaches is facilitated by centering a problem or issue at the intersection (venn) of ecosystem services, socio-ecological systems, and interdisciplinarity. We provide three examples that will include lessons to engage majors and non-majors.

October 23, 2020 Designing multidimensional assessments

Speakers: Luanna Prevost,  University of South Florida; Amanda Sorensen, Michigan State University; Jennifer Doherty, University of Washington

How do we know what our students have learned? Creating multi-dimensional assessments is critical when developing a multi-dimensional 4DEE curriculum. Participants will be introduced to developing multi-dimensional assessments in line with 4DEE using the 3D-LAP tool.

October 24, 2020 4DEE in Curriculum and Program Design

Speakers: Alan Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies; Carmen Cid, Eastern Connecticut State University; Kim Bjorgo-Thorne, West Virginia Wesleyan College

How can 4DEE be used to transform programs – from stand-alone REU programs to major and non-major course sequences? We showcase three pathways: 1) bringing the four dimensions into non-major and majors courses , 2) using 4 dimensional ecology to redesign the entire biology major across class levels, and 3) engaging summer research students in 4 dimensional learning . We will provide a step-by-step approach, and insights into successes and challenges.

Daily 4DEE Showcase Workshops  ~ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm EDT

These workshops provide an opportunity for participants to explore how the 4DEE framework can be integrated into lesson building, assessment and curriculum or program design.   All workshops will be held from 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm EDT each day.

 

October 22, 2020   Building a Lesson using the 4D Ecology Education (4DEE)  Framework

Facilitators: George Middendorf, Howard University; Ken Klemow, Wilkes University; Vikki Rodgers, Babson College

Meaningful integration of 4DEE multidimensional approaches is facilitated by examining problems and issues at the intersection of ecosystem services, socio-ecological systems, and interdisciplinarity. We will ask the audience to identify a problem/issue and then help build it out using this approach.

October 23, 2020 Assessing Your Assessments for 4DEE

Facilitators: Luanna Prevost, University of South Florida; Amanda Sorensen, Michigan State University; Jennifer Doherty, University of Washington

This will be an interactive assessment design and evaluation workshop. 10 minutes intro, 30 minutes breakout in small groups where participants will work together using the 3D-LAP tool to create a multi-dimensional assessment item, 15 minutes reconvene to discuss group products, final Q&A until the end.

October 24, 2020 Curriculum/Program Design in 4D

Facilitators: Alan Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies; Carmen Cid, Eastern Connecticut State University; Kim Bjorgo-Thorne, West Virginia Wesleyan College

Join us for an open discussion of the successes and challenges of : 1) Course and course-sequence design and transformation; 2) Strategies for successful adoption by faculty and administrators; 3) Building and transforming 4DEE research experiences and other summer enrichment programs; and 4) K-12 applications of 4DEE.

 

4DEE Sessions during the ESA’s Annual Meeting August 3-6, 2020

Posters:

Transforming ecology major courses to meet the goals of the ESA-endorsed 4DEE curricular framework Authors: Carmen R. Cid, Eastern Connecticut State University, Alan R. Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Kimberly A. Bjorgo-Thorne, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Jennifer H. Doherty, University of Washington, Kenneth M. Klemow, Wilkes University, George Middendorf, Howard University, Teresa Mourad, Ecological Society of America, Vikki L. Rodgers, Babson College, and Amanda E. Sorensen, Michigan State University

View Poster Here
Applying ESA’s 4DEE framework to guide the development of ecological literacy for non-majors Authors: Vikki L. Rodgers, Babson College, Alan R. Berkowitz, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Kimberly A. Bjorgo-Thorne, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Carmen R. Cid, Eastern Connecticut State University, Jennifer H. Doherty, University of Washington, Kenneth M. Klemow, Wilkes University, George Middendorf, Howard University, Teresa Mourad, Ecological Society of America, and Amanda E. Sorensen, Michigan State University

View Poster Here

ESA Four-Dimensional Ecology Education Extravaganza

A day of workshops to energize Ecology teaching. People could join for one or all three workshops.

Monday, July 20th, 2020

11:30 – 12:30 PM Eastern: Aligning Your Teaching with the Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) Framework

Organized by: Justin R. St. Juliana, Cornell University

1:00 –  2:30 PM Eastern: 12th REEFS: Resources for Ecology Education, Fair and Share

Organized by: Jennifer H. Doherty, University of Washington

Co-organized by: Tracy B. Gartner, Carthage College,  Kathleen Shea, St. Olaf College, Erica Schlickeisen Tietjen, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Teresa Mourad, Ecological Society of America

Click here for the full list of Presenters at this years REEFS

3:00 – 4:30 PM Eastern: Assess What’s Important: Creating 4DEE Aligned Assessments That Show How Students Use Their Ecological Knowledge

Organized by: Amanda E. Sorensen, Michigan State University

Co-organized by: Jennifer H. Doherty, University of Washington and Diane Ebert-May, Michigan State University

2019

Sunday, August 11, 2019 |  12:00 pm – 5:00 pm WK 9: 11th Resources for Ecology Education, Fair, and Share (REEFS) – Interactive Workshop.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019 |  1:30 pm – 5:00 pm OOS 12: Ecological Education for All Students: Intersections of Inclusive Pedagogy and 4DEE Framework.

Thursday, August 15, 2019 |  4:30 pm – 6:30 pm 41: Implementing the Ecological Society of America’s Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) framework: case studies and future directions.

What an exciting launch!  The webinar gave an overview of the Framework and the opportunities and challenges for its implementation, highlighted examples of its application and mapped out an agenda for research and assessment.

• Blog Posted on ESA endorsement of 4DEE, January 14, 2019
• Conversations with our Presidents at the ESA Annual Meeting 2018
• Invitation to ESA Committees, Sections, Chapters
• About the Four-dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) Framework
• View the Four Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) Framework in Detailed Outline Format

Summary Paper presenting the need, structure, and implications of a Four Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) curricular framework of essential ecological concepts and skills for undergraduates

2018

Monday, August 6, 2018 |  10:15 am – 11:30 am  SS 19 – The ESA’s Four-Dimensional Ecology Education Framework (4DEE): Opportunities and Challenges. A panel of ESA Presidents

Tuesday, August 7, 2018 |  8:00 am – 11:30 am OOS 8 – Implementing Four-Dimensional Teaching of Ecology: Successes and Challenges

Wednesday, August 8, 2018 | PS 27-53 – Implementing an integrative framework for undergraduates: the ESA’s Four Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) initiative 

2017

August 8, 2017  |  ESA Annual Meeting, Portland. 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm
SS 17 – Implementing ESA’s 4DEE Framework to Transform Your Undergraduate Ecology Course

2016

August 2016  |  The framework, now named the Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) Framework, was presented at a Special Session – SS 10: The Ecology Curricular Framework Initiative-Current Status at the 2016 ESA Annual Meeting.

May 2016  |  A report recommending a a multi-dimensional framework consisting of concepts, cross-cutting themes, skills, and human dimensions was submitted to the ESA Governing Board.  The Governing Board agreed to forward the framework to the Professional Certification Board for review.

2015

September 2015   |  A two-day workshop was held in Silver Spring MD with the support of a Long Range Planning Grant and augmented with Board Strategic Funds.  The workshop included a broad range of ecology professionals from academia, agencies, education, nonprofits, and business.  Key concepts, skills, and themes emerged during this workshop. 

August 2015  |  A Special Session, SS19 ~ Developing a Set of Fundamental Concepts in Ecology was organized at the ESA 2015 Annual Meeting. The Session sought member input on the fundamental concepts appropriate to introductory ecology. Participants emphasized that this was an opportunity to go beyond traditional ecology concepts and to build a framework that is multidimensional. Participants also recommended that the framework be explicit about some of the recent developments such as anthropogenic ideas in ecology.

August 2015  |  Members of the task force also participated in another special session organized by Bill Reiners – SS 6 Ecology’s Concepts: How Are They Used and Valued?  http://eco.confex.com/eco/2015/webprogram/Session10851.html who presented survey results on what natural resource managers and others perceived are important ideas.