Abstract:
The Boyer Commission (1998) called on universities to 'reinvent' undergraduate programs and delivery with the objective to engage students in the process of inquiry, beginning in the freshman year. It also called on universities to develop a sense of community amongst the student population to improve the overall learning environment for students inside and outside of the classroom. At the University of Alberta this call to change the learning environment at the introductory level has been a focal point of recent changes to the introductory "Animal Science 200" class taught within the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics. The teaching team has implemented a project-based learning experience, called 'Name that Tool,' that engages students in the inquiry process, while also practicing their oral and written communication skills. It was intended that this experience would result in a more involved and engaged student population with demonstrated improvements in confidence, ability, and overall satisfaction. After this project, the differences in knowledge base between urban and rural backgrounds should be less noticeable, as all students have a stronger foundation on which to build new knowledge.
Keywords:
animal science, projects
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