Vertebrate biology class engages in experiential learning on excursion

Evvie Mitchem has visited the Indianapolis Zoo dozens of times.

But it’s a whole different experience going there on an Indiana University Kokomo Experience and You (KEY) trip.

“It’s super cool to learn about something and go to a place you’ve been before, and you have a new understanding of what you see,” said Mitchem, who attended with her vertebrate biology class. “When I looked at the sharks, I knew what kind they were, how they move, and what their characteristics are.”

Lina Rifai, associate professor of vertebrate biology, assigned students groups of taxas, or classifications of animals to find at the zoo and make presentations on what makes those animals unique and different from other groups of vertebrates, or animals with backbones.

“I wanted to give students a memorable experiential learning opportunity to help them with learning and applying topics we cover in class, specifically on the diversity and conservation of vertebrates,” she said. “I also had students read the book Your Inner Fish for this class, and as the book also explains how we classify animals by using an example of us walking through a zoo, I thought a trip to the zoo would be a great idea for a class project.”

Brianna Lane enjoyed applying what she’d learned about sharks and rays.

“We were able to touch them in the touch tank, and get an up-close look at them,” said Lane, from Elwood. “We had learned about their placoid scales and could feel how they feel like little teeth all over their bodies.”

With what she’s learned about classifications of species, Lane said she knew where to find specific species she wanted to see.

Mitchem, from Kokomo, said she learned more about her assigned vertebrates from information shared in the animal exhibits.

“You can look at the animal and think it’s great and then see what information they’ve presented and learn that it’s endangered,” she said. “I think that’s cool. I feel like after this class, seeing animals won’t be the same to me. I’ll know what they are, but I’ll also know the name of their taxa, and all their features.”

Gabriela Vega added that for the projects, students considered the ratio of representation for various taxa. They found most animals there are mammals, which is a marketing consideration.

“People aren’t as interested in going to the zoo to see birds and reptiles,” she said. “The mammals are fuzzy and trigger the ‘awwww.’”

She believes she will remember what she’s learned in class better because of seeing many of the taxas at the zoo.

“It was a nice way to experience vertebrate biology,” she said. “There is a lot of information thrown at you, and the zoo trip helped me organize those thoughts. It incorporated fun into our learning.”

In addition to learning more about vertebrates, Vega said it was nice to get to know classmates outside of school.

“I didn’t know a few of them very well, and it was nice to hang out with them,” she said. “It was nice to talk to people on a different level than just in academics.”

Mitchem said the trip will be one of her memories of her time at IU Kokomo.

“They say college is the best time of your life,” she said. “Most of the time I’m studying but this is an experience I can talk about after I graduate. When I think back on college this is what I’m going to remember.”

The trip was offered as part of the IU Kokomo Experience and You program, which offers transformative learning opportunities through a wide variety of hands-on experiences – from faculty-mentored research, internships, and retreats to overseas study, domestic field trips, and project-based learning.

Education is KEY at Indiana University Kokomo.