Conservation Learning Group Publishes Case Studies to Facilitate Experiential Learning

Case studies are designed to encourage research and experimentation in high school and college classrooms

February 7, 2022, 10:13 am | Mark Licht, Ann Staudt

AMES, Iowa – The Conservation Learning Group, a think tank based at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and dedicated to addressing conservation and environmental challenges, has published a series of Watershed-based Conservation Case Studies designed to aid educators in bringing field data and outcomes into agriculture, land management, science and environmental studies classroom settings. Comprised of four case studies, these teaching tools provide detailed resources and guidance for use within high school and college curricula.

Mark Licht and Adam Janke.“Throughout our outreach efforts with high school and post-secondary students and educators, CLG has found many different approaches to incorporating conservation practice knowledge in classroom and field exercises, but we also saw the need for additional data- and research-driven resources,” said Mark Licht, assistant professor in agronomy and cropping systems specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. “Enabling educators to encourage what-if investigation by students utilizing real-world data collected from Iowa farms and numerous geophysical datasets should help accelerate and deepen understanding.”

The free-to-use case study topics include In the Field, Better Utilizing the Field Edge, Wetlands and Wildlife and Redefining the Field Edge.

Each self-contained case study includes downloadable content for educators and students. Items available to educators include reference documents, suggested questions and activities, presentation materials and reference to the Iowa Core Requirements for high school use.

Student resources include workbooks and supplemental resources that provide a range of research data, tools and other educational supports to facilitate experimentation and experiential learning using data collected from working farms in Iowa.

“Our goal is to encourage learners to explore and better understand situations and outcomes that they would experience on their farms or in the field,” continued Licht. “And, these resources are available to anyone, so farmers or landowners looking to assess conservation practice impacts can certainly benefit from the case studies as well as the Whole Farm Conservation Best Practices Manual available for free from CLG.”

The preparation of the case studies involved support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service and North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.

To view or download the case study materials, visit CLG online.

Conservation Learning Group is a collaborative team established to advance training, outreach and research across land uses and production systems to increase overall sustainability of agricultural and natural systems for multiple generations to come.

 

Shareable photo: Iowa State University's Mark Licht and Adam Janke gather field data for case studies.

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