Not all Doom and Gloom: Students in the Anthropocene Develop Collaborative Skills Using Social Media and Surveys

Abstract

Informing undergraduates on environmental conservation education topics related to the Anthropocene can present challenges. Allowing students to work together in groups to actively design projects to both conduct surveys and inform others via social media are two related strategies for student based instruction as a form of learning. As part of a special topic conservation biology course, Humans in the Anthropocene, undergraduate biology majors collected data from surveys on topics related to the Anthropocene, while concomitantly using social media (posting 2 TikTok videos) to engage in science communication and learn about factors impacting topics. Responses to Likert scale questions and reflections from this group activity were overwhelmingly positive with students reporting they preferred this form of hands-on learning and that this activity piqued their interest, and students learned valuable skills on data presentation alongside creative communication using social media. Incorporating surveys, videos, and presentations therefore is an effective method for engaging students and communities regarding environmental issues related to the Anthropocene.