IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i15p11995-d1210460.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Use of Google Earth Engine for Teaching Coding and Monitoring of Environmental Change: A Case Study among STEM and Non-STEM Students

Author

Listed:
  • Ileana A. Callejas

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 91011, USA)

  • Liana Huang

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 91011, USA)

  • Marisol Cira

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 91011, USA)

  • Benjamin Croze

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 91011, USA)

  • Christine M. Lee

    (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA)

  • Taylor Cason

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 91011, USA)

  • Elizabeth Schiffler

    (Department of Theater, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 91011, USA)

  • Carlin Soos

    (Department of Information Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 91011, USA)

  • Paul Stainier

    (Institute of the Environment & Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 91011, USA)

  • Zichan Wang

    (The Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 91011, USA)

  • Shanna Shaked

    (Center for Education Innovation & Learning in the Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 91011, USA)

  • Moana McClellan

    (Institute of the Environment & Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 91011, USA)

  • Wei-Cheng Hung

    (Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA)

  • Jennifer A. Jay

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 91011, USA)

Abstract

Computational skills are advantageous for teaching students to investigate environmental change using satellite remote sensing. This focus is especially relevant given the disproportionate underrepresentation of minorities and women in STEM fields. This study quantified the effects in both a STEM and a non-STEM class of Earth science remote sensing modules in Google Earth Engine on students’ self-efficacy in coding, understanding remote sensing, and interest in science and a career in environmental research. Additionally, the STEM students engaged in a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) on water quality. Satellite imagery was used to visualize water quality changes in coastal areas around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. Pre- and post-surveys reveal statistically significant changes in most students’ confidence to apply coding skills to investigate environmental change and understand remote sensing. The intervention was not sufficient to lead to significant changes in interest in science or a career in environmental research. There is great benefit in incorporating remote sensing labs to teach environmental concepts to STEM and non-STEM students and to bolster the confidence of underrepresented minorities and females in STEM.

Suggested Citation

  • Ileana A. Callejas & Liana Huang & Marisol Cira & Benjamin Croze & Christine M. Lee & Taylor Cason & Elizabeth Schiffler & Carlin Soos & Paul Stainier & Zichan Wang & Shanna Shaked & Moana McClellan &, 2023. "Use of Google Earth Engine for Teaching Coding and Monitoring of Environmental Change: A Case Study among STEM and Non-STEM Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:15:p:11995-:d:1210460
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/15/11995/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/15/11995/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jean Stockard & Celeste M. Rohlfing & Geraldine L. Richmond, 2021. "Equity for women and underrepresented minorities in STEM: Graduate experiences and career plans in chemistry," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 118(4), pages 2020508118-, January.
    2. Jennifer A. Jay & Raffaella D’Auria & J. Cully Nordby & David Andy Rice & David A. Cleveland & Anthony Friscia & Sophie Kissinger & Marc Levis & Hannah Malan & Deepak Rajagopal & Joel R. Reynolds & We, 2019. "Reduction of the carbon footprint of college freshman diets after a food-based environmental science course," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 154(3), pages 547-564, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Leslie Cardoza Cedillo & Michelle Montoya & Mónica Jaldón & Ma Guadalupe Paredes, 2023. "GHG Emission Accounting and Reduction Strategies in the Academic Sector: A Case Study in Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Nanna Meyer & Mary Ann Kluge & Sean Svette & Alyssa Shrader & Andrea Vanderwoude & Bethany Frieler, 2021. "Food Next Door: From Food Literacy to Citizenship on a College Campus," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-24, January.
    3. David Arthur Cleveland & Quentin Gee & Audrey Horn & Lauren Weichert & Mickael Blancho, 2021. "How many chickens does it take to make an egg? Animal welfare and environmental benefits of replacing eggs with plant foods at the University of California, and beyond," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 38(1), pages 157-174, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:15:p:11995-:d:1210460. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.