Collaborative Research: Education Materials to Bring Traditional Ecological Knowledge into Science Education

传统生态知识(TEK)日益被认为是生态科学的有效伙伴。正在开发课程材料的原型，以实现TEK和生态科学之间的整合。这些材料将是部落学院和主流大学教育工作者的宝贵资源，因为我们正在努力支持越来越多的美洲原住民在科学学科上的发展。对主流科学家进行TEK方法的教育提高了跨文化能力，减少了美洲原住民参与的障碍，并丰富了解决环境问题的可用视角。两个机构和两个目标相同但受众不同的私人投资机构正在合作开发原型：部落学院小大角学院(LBHC)和主流大学纽约州立大学环境科学与林业学院(ESF)。在LBHC，原型是一门文化响应性的、以地点为基础的生态学课程，它将把生态科学与TEK结合起来，主要来自乌鸦文化。在纽约州立大学ESF，原型将以概念为基础，跨越广泛多样的文化和生态系统。我们开发的材料将被纳入这两个机构目前教授的一门课程--普通生态学。传统知识的范围与典型生态课程的内容有许多相似之处，使其成为介绍TEK的绝佳论坛。生态学课程也几乎是大学生物课程中普遍存在的一部分，因此它为更广泛地传播所开发的材料提供了适当的场所。

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is increasingly recognized as a valid partner to ecological sciences. Prototypes of course materials are being developed to achieve integration between TEK and the science of ecology. Such materials will be a valuable resource to educators at tribal colleges and at mainstream universities as we endeavor to support the development of increasing numbers of Native Americans in science disciplines. Education of mainstream scientists in the approaches of TEK increases cross-cultural competence, reduces barriers to participation by Native Americans, and enriches the perspectives available for environmental problem solving. Prototypes are being developed collaboratively between two institutions and two PIs with shared goals, but different audiences: a tribal college, Little Big Horn College (LBHC), and a mainstream university, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). At LBHC the prototype is intended as a culturally responsive, place-based ecology course, which will integrate the science of ecology with TEK, primarily from Crow culture. At SUNY ESF, the prototype will be concept-based and span a wide diversity of cultures and ecosystems. The materials we develop will be incorporated into a course presently taught at both institutions, General Ecology. The scope of traditional knowledge has many parallels with the content of a typical ecology course, making it an excellent forum for introducing TEK. An Ecology course is also a nearly universal part of college biology curricula, and it thus provides an appropriate venue for wider dissemination of the materials developed.