Online classes that inspire research and exploration in nature
Welcome to Field Biology Class! Our online ornithology and field biology classes for teens are developed and taught by an ecologist with extensive field research and teaching experience. Field biology—the study of organisms and their interactions in natural environments—is at the heart of our programs, and our classes serve as a launchpad for exploring nature and engaging in ecological research.
Our teaching philosophy emphasizes active participation in the scientific method and the development of real scientific skills. Join our live Teen Bird Club to connect with other young birders and share bird sightings. Dive deeper with the Ornithologist in Training Curriculum Series, which offers flexible asynchronous learning, personalized instructor feedback, and live online office hours for support and interaction with peers. For students ready to take the next academic step, Reading Scientific Literature with Confidence and Wildlife Journal Club teach teens how to read, analyze, and discuss real scientific research in wildlife biology and ecology.
Ages 13-18
Live, online Teen Bird Club
Asynchronous, college-prep ornithology curriculum with live office hours
Field research, scientific writing, and scientific literature discussion and alalysis
Classes with quizzes, labs, and assignments
Individualized feedback and grades
In this live, weekly, 50 minute course, bird enthusiasts ages 13-18 will have the opportunity to meet other young birders. In each class, students will meet to share their recent bird sightings, swap birding tips, and learn about one taxonomic Family of birds each week. This is an inclusive group that welcomes beginner and expert birders alike.
In these live, weekly 50-minute courses, students learn how to read, analyze, and discuss real scientific journal articles in wildlife biology and ecology. The Reading Scientific Literature with Confidence course introduces the structure of research papers and strategies for understanding and interpreting them through collaborative reading and guided discussion. Students may then continue into Wildlife Journal Club, where they deepen their skills by reading a new research article each week, preparing notes and questions, and participating in thoughtful discussions while taking turns leading conversations about the science.
Budding young ornithologists may take any course in the series as a stand-alone course, or may take 3 full years of Ornithology courses that culminate in the development of skills in independent ornithology field research and college-prep scientific writing. All courses are offered in a flexible-schedule, asynchronous format with personalized instructor feedback on course materials and live weekly support "office hours" for additional instructor support and peer interaction.
Self-motivated students work with an experienced field ecologist to design, conduct, and communicate a unique field biology research project. This mentoring experience includes 6-10 live, online 1-on-1 mentoring sessions which are typically held every other week to provide students with adequate time to complete research and writing assignments and receive individualized feedback. The class meeting sequence and schedule are personalized to reflect the research interests and science communication goals of each student.