Variability Is Not the Villain: Finding Patterns in Complex Natural Images

Brigette A. Brinton; Mary C. Curran

doi:10.1080/00368121.2015.1103692

Variability Is Not the Villain: Finding Patterns in Complex Natural Images

Brigette A. Brinton, Mary C. Curran

Biology

Savannah State University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Everyone needs strong observational skills to solve challenging problems and make informed decisions. However, many students expect to find exact answers to their questions by using the internet and do not understand the role of uncertainty, especially in decision making and scientific research. Humans and other animals choose among many options by using information about their environment. During this activity, students use their observational skills to analyze data from images of grass shrimp and a highly variable salt-marsh habitat as case studies for prioritizing different pieces of information. They gain an increased appreciation of natural variability and learn to build a consensus in a scenario that has no correct answer.

Original language	American English
Journal	Science Activities: Classroom Projects and Curriculum Ideas
Volume	52
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/00368121.2015.1103692
State	Published - Jan 1 2015

Keywords

Next Generation Science Standards
critical thinking
ecology
middle school
oceanology
process skills

DC Disciplines

Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology
Biology

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10.1080/00368121.2015.1103692License: Unspecified

https://doi.org/10.1080/00368121.2015.1103692

Cite this

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title = "Variability Is Not the Villain: Finding Patterns in Complex Natural Images",

abstract = " Everyone needs strong observational skills to solve challenging problems and make informed decisions. However, many students expect to find exact answers to their questions by using the internet and do not understand the role of uncertainty, especially in decision making and scientific research. Humans and other animals choose among many options by using information about their environment. During this activity, students use their observational skills to analyze data from images of grass shrimp and a highly variable salt-marsh habitat as case studies for prioritizing different pieces of information. They gain an increased appreciation of natural variability and learn to build a consensus in a scenario that has no correct answer.",

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AB - Everyone needs strong observational skills to solve challenging problems and make informed decisions. However, many students expect to find exact answers to their questions by using the internet and do not understand the role of uncertainty, especially in decision making and scientific research. Humans and other animals choose among many options by using information about their environment. During this activity, students use their observational skills to analyze data from images of grass shrimp and a highly variable salt-marsh habitat as case studies for prioritizing different pieces of information. They gain an increased appreciation of natural variability and learn to build a consensus in a scenario that has no correct answer.

KW - Next Generation Science Standards

KW - critical thinking

KW - ecology

KW - middle school

KW - oceanology

KW - process skills

UR - https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/biology-facpubs/132

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JO - Science Activities: Classroom Projects and Curriculum Ideas

JF - Science Activities: Classroom Projects and Curriculum Ideas

ER -

Variability Is Not the Villain: Finding Patterns in Complex Natural Images

Abstract

Keywords

DC Disciplines

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