Innovation in teaching and learning is happening every day across our community — often in ways that inspire, challenge, and transform how students engage. This spotlight series highlights the people, ideas, and practices shaping meaningful learning experiences, offering a closer look at the creative approaches driving student success and academic excellence.
A Technology Enhanced Course Based Research Experience to Foster Career Readiness
This project is being highlighted as a model Catalyst Innovation Grant as it was recognized by reviewers in the Spring 2026 Catalyst cycle for its strong alignment with student learning, clear implementation plan, and immediate impact on the student experience.
In FW 413: Wildlife Research and Management Techniques, students are stepping into the role of field scientists through a technology-enhanced Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE). Catalyst funding is being used to support the purchase of autonomous acoustic recording devices and environmental data loggers, enabling students to collect and analyze real-world wildlife and environmental data.
Working in small research teams, students develop research questions, deploy monitoring equipment in diverse campus environments, and analyze data on species such as birds, bats, and amphibians. By incorporating emerging technologies commonly used in the field, the course aims to expand the scope and depth of student inquiry while supporting iterative hypothesis testing and experimental design.
This innovation not only strengthens students’ technical and analytical skills, but also builds confidence and career readiness through authentic research experiences. By embedding these opportunities within a required course, the project broadens access to high-impact practices and ensures that all students in the major engage with the tools and methods shaping contemporary wildlife science.