ecotypes survey: ideas to explore difference with students

[James Proctor]

Dear all, as you know, the 2024-25 EcoTypes survey and followup form are now available for your instructional use. One important consideration students systematically explore via EcoTypes is that "Many Care, Just Differently"; this email offers brief ideas to explore difference.

• Compare their EcoTypes survey reports. An easy thing is for students to compare their survey results, which they can view at any time via their entry key. You may wish to focus on specific axes or themes, or certain EcoTypes considerations, given the volume of information on their reports. Or consider certain demographics, as highlighted in this reanalysis of 2023-24 data (n > 3000), which for instance suggests that gender identification is a major differentiator.
• Compare their individual results to class or overall results. If you have requested a group code and received your data, you can do a class summary for student use. Additionally, I have just prepared a 2024-25 EcoTypes survey summary sheet (bit.ly/ecotypes2425) you may use for larger comparison: the n is relatively small during this early stage of the academic year, but will grow over time, and the sheet is dynamically updated.
• Complete the followup (MCJD) form. The followup form linked above is for students who have completed the survey, and offers a customized, interactive exploration of their results in the context of Many Care, Just Differently. They can do it entirely on their own, and receive an email copy of their responses if you require verification. (This form may be a bit challenging; I urge you read related sections of Instructor FAQ to offer guidance, or be in touch as needed.)
• Play SDG Mosaic. One application of the EcoTypes connection to global priorities is SDG Mosaic, a card game your students can play in teams. The U.N. Sustainable Development Goals represent a diversity of global priorities; SDG Mosaic works with these SDGs, and optionally includes the eight primary EcoTypes personae to exemplify each main EcoType.

Hope these ideas are helpful. I'd love to hear how they, or other ideas, work in your classroom, thanks.

Regards,

Jim P.