Development and Evaluation of Computerized Multi-access Taxonomic Keys for Undergraduate Biology Laboratory Instruction

生物科学(61)。CCLI教育材料开发概念验证项目支持北美东部昆虫电子钥匙原型的开发和评估。与以印刷格式使用二分分类检索表的传统识别方法不同，这种以计算机为基础的学生友好的工具可以在多个访问点输入，从而鼓励探索，并适应入门用户经常发现的不确定性。这种电子钥匙的灵活性提高了学生识别昆虫的速度、准确性和信心，这一断言是通过比较使用两种方法(多路钥匙和二分钥匙)的学生的表现来评估的，涉及不同课程的学生，从非理科专业的学生到选择昆虫学专业的学生。研究结果为考虑将生物多样性模块纳入其实验室或实地课程课程的教育工作者提供了重要信息。该项目为开发其他分类群的电子检索表提供了样板。这种易于使用的专业制作的识别工具在互联网上的使用对教育工作者、推广代理、研究人员和普通公民应该是有价值的，并促进对分类学的更大兴趣，对环境和那里发现的生物多样性的更密切的认识，以及科学素养的提高。

Biological Science (61). This CCLI Educational Materials Development proof-of-concept project supports the development and evaluation of a prototype electronic key to the insects of eastern North America. Unlike traditional identification methods that use dichotomous taxonomic keys in print format, this student-friendly computer-based tool can be entered at multiple access points, thereby encouraging exploration and accommodating the uncertainty often found among introductory users. The assertion that the flexibility of this electronic key increases students' speed, accuracy and confidence in identification of insects is evaluated by comparison of the performance of students using the two approaches (the multi-access key versus dichotomous keys), and involves diverse courses with students ranging from non-science majors to those choosing entomology as a specialization. The results provide important information for educators considering the incorporation of biodiversity modules in their laboratory or field course curricula. This project serves as a model for the development of electronic keys for other taxa. The internet availability of this easy-to-use professionally-produced identification tool should be of value to educators, extension agents, researchers and the average citizen, and fosters a greater interest in taxonomy, a more intimate awareness of the environment and the diversity of organisms found there, and an enhancement in scientific literacy.