Professional paper
LOOKING FOR THE STAG BEETLE (Lucanus cervus Linnaeus, 1758) – AN EXAMPLE OF TEACHING OUT OF CLASROOM
Matej Šag
orcid.org/0000-0003-2700-6018
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Department of Biology, Osijek, Croatia
Nataša Turić
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Department of Biology, Osijek, Croatia
Dubravka Čerba
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Department of Biology, Osijek, Croatia
Ivana Turković Čakalić
orcid.org/0009-0009-2544-9510
; Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Department of Biology, Osijek, Croatia
Abstract
Active learning along with development of research skills and generic competences such as organizing, planning and cooperation present the main characteristic of field education. During field classes, students are directed towards learning based on scientific approach, including creating hypothesis, learning proper research methodology, gathering and processing data and making conclusions, what allows them to become young researchers. The role of a teacher is to supervise, encourage and instruct students to actively observe and make notes of all the processes in their natural surroundings. Since the students are actively involved in the learning process, they increase their interest in what they need to learn, scientific way of thinking and logical deduction are developing as well. Students also develop the concept of the complexity and diversity of life and this is more easily accomplished when they are out in the nature. Applying scientific research methods to study particular taxonomic groups or species can be done conducting the out of classroom education, as the type of field education. In this paper we propose stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) in forest habitats as a research subject, to study its anatomy, ecology and the reasons of their endangerment. During field classes students become more independent and develop their research skills and scientific opinion. The collected data can be forwarded to scientists and institutions for nature conservation to improve the current information of the population distribution, thus contributing to the protection of this species. It is very important to include and implement project education as much as possible since it enhances students’ capabilities for better understanding concepts in nature, learning practical methods (e.g. observation, measurements, data logging, making conclusions) and by integrating with other class subjects enables them to comprehend importance of interdisciplinary in solving research problems.
Keywords
field education; stag beetle; scientific way of thinking; active learning
Hrčak ID:
171171
URI
Publication date:
22.12.2016.
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