What is NCEP?
The Network of Conservation Educators and Practitioners (NCEP) is a global initiative of the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History that seeks to develop the human capacity needed to sustain the Earth’s diversity.
Partnering with collaborators from around the world, NCEP targets educators working with undergraduate and graduate students, and trainers working with conservation professionals in a variety of settings, seeking to:
• Develop and disseminate open educational ma¬terials on managing and sustaining biologi¬cal and cultural diversity
• Foster an active approach to teaching and learn¬ing that models the realities of professional practice
• Create global opportunities for collaboration, communication, and interaction among conservation educa-tors and practitioners
What are NCEP modules?
NCEP develops and disseminates open educational resources, or “modules”, available free of charge on our website (http://ncep.amh.org). These are multi-component, peer-reviewed teaching materials, designed to be easily adaptable, and to support rather than replace materials teachers may have already developed on these topics. Each module includes a Synthesis document that brings together key background information and references for a topic, an easily modified visual Presentation with notes and discussion questions, and at least one practical Exercise for laboratory or field use, with accompanying Solutions. In addition, interdisciplinary Case Studies highlight key concepts and questions that span the topics of more than one module.
NCEP modules can be used as an integrated package or as individual components on an à la carte menu. For instance, a professor might use several slides from a presentation, assign parts of the synthesis to students, use an in class-exercise, or combine all of these. Modeling the richly interconnected, interdisciplinary, and rapidly evolving nature of the field of conservation biology, the modules are intended to facilitate student participation and engender the application of critical thinking to conservation problems.
Who may use NCEP materials?
NCEP modules are resources for teachers. Individual educators at any location with Internet access may participate by simply downloading and using peer-reviewed NCEP teaching materials free of charge. We currently have over 100 titles available in English, French, or Spanish, and the range of topics covered means that NCEP modules may be suitable for use in a wide variety of courses in the biological and environmental sciences, and in social sciences and humanities courses with environmental content.
For a brief video tutorial on “Registering for NCEP Modules,” click on the following link: Registering for NCEP Modules
Where do we work?
NCEP is designed to be a global community – individual educators at any location with Internet access may participate simply by downloading and using NCEP materials. In several countries, however, the CBC and its in-country partners have chosen a more intensive strategy, allowing us to adapt our materials to local contexts. We are currently active in Bolivia, Lao PDR, Madagascar, Mexico, Mongolia, Myanmar, Peru, Rwanda, the United States, the Solomon Islands, and Vietnam.
NCEP in Mongolia
Since 2009, WCS Mongolia has been working alongside the School of Biology and Biotechnology, National University of Mongolia, to develop 4 NCEP Modules:
1. Protecting Biodiversity: Field Skills and Law Enforcement
2. Wildlife Trade and Managing Wildlife Harvest for Sustainability
3. Wildlife Monitoring
4. Site Conservation Planning for Protected Areas
In November 2010 we held an event at the National University to introduce the project to the academic, NGO, and government communities, to seek their input on Module content and application, and to produce a plan for the completion of these modules.
In April 2011 we will hold an event at the Technical and Technological College, Choibalsan city, Dornod province, to pilot the teaching of these Modules to conservation practitioners – including University Professors, Protected Area Management, and Community Rangers.