The role of field exercises in ecological learning and values education: action research on the use of campus wetlands

Providing undergraduate biology students with ecological knowledge and environmental awareness is critical for developing professionalism in sustainable development. In addition to the cognitive and psychomotor development, outdoor ecological exercises combining place-based education and experiential learning can stimulate the affective domain of the learning process. This action research was done in a course on ecology for third-year biology students at Mahidol University, Thailand. Additional wetland exercises based on Salaya Campus, Nakhon Pathom Province, located in an urban sprawl area about 28 km from the centre of Bangkok, were developed to allow undergraduate biology students to engage with the natural wetlands remaining on campus. Evaluation of students’ attitudes towards wetlands indicated the effectiveness of intensive wetland exercises, which provided a balance between knowledge and the attitudes/values approach. As a result, students learned effectively about general ecological concepts together with exploring values on local wetlands and suburban ecology, in connection to their livelihoods.