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

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Publication Title

Science Activities: Classroom Projects and Curriculum Ideas

DOI

10.1080/00368121.2015.1103692

ISSN

1940-1302

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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