Dino 101: Dinosaur Paleobiology from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Appearance and Anatomy

This lesson covers the diversity in dinosaur appearances, and will be able to identify major features of the major groups of dinosaurs.

Death and Fossilization

This module describes how fossils form, how we interpret the taphonomy of skeletons and bonebeds, and looks at the possible biases taphonomic events may create in the fossil record.

Eating

This module looks at the variety of food types, feeding habits, and feeding adaptations amongst the major groups of dinosaurs.

Moving Around

This module helps students understand the general modes and styles of locomotion in the major dinosaur groups. It also describes general methods of evaluating hypotheses on locomotion.

Birth, Growth and Reproduction

This module provides a generalized life history of a dinosaur, from birth through adulthood, including reproduction. The student will be able to describe major techniques of evaluating growth stages and rates in dinosaurs.

Attack and Defense

Examines the behaviours and structures that may have served for attack or defence through the lifetime of a dinosaur.

What is a Species?

This module will teach the different ways of defining what a species is. Students will be able to compare the strengths and weaknesses of different species concepts for different situations.

Evolution

This module will describe the basic theories of speciation, and discusses how how these different methods of speciation may have occurred, including both hypothetical and empirical examples.

Stratigraphy and Geologic Time

This method provides basic stratigraphic concepts and the scale of earth history. Students will understand the evolution of dinosaurs through time, including which groups evolved when and where.

Paleogeography and Plate Tectonics

This module presents the basic concepts in plate tectonics and the evolution of the earth’s surface.

Dinosaur Origins

This module will look at the evolution of dinosaurs from non-dinosaurian archosaurs.

Dinosaur Extinction

The module will examine the end-Cretaceous extinction event, and provide examples of vertebrate groups that both persisted and died out during the event.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides a comprehensive overview of dinosaur paleobiology

Covers diverse topics including anatomy, eating habits, locomotion, growth, environmental and behavioral adaptations, origins, and extinction of dinosaurs

Delivered by an experienced instructor, Philip John Currie, PhD, who is a renowned expert in dinosaur paleontology

Provides a strong foundation for understanding the history and evolution of dinosaurs

Useful for students, researchers, and enthusiasts interested in dinosaur paleobiology

Reviews summary

Dinosaur paleobiology: an introduction

Learners say this course is a great introduction to dinosaur paleobiology and is largely positive. It's well received for the engaging assignments, knowledgeable instructors, deadlines, and certificates. However, some learners had issues with the fossil viewer, spelling and grammar, the number of quizzes, and outdated information.

Learners appreciate the option to earn a certificate upon completion of the course.

"I was very happy with the contents of this course. I learned a lot of new things and developed a higher appreciation for the hard work involved in researching dinosaurs and their habits."

"I'm not an expert and I'm going to apologise now for my bad english I can only say that from an italian 14 year old passionate about palontoly I loved this course so much."

"This is an amazing course! Provides abstracts to the "Dinosaur" concepts."

The course is self-paced with deadlines for each module, helping learners stay on track and motivated.

"The course materials were extremely well prepared and well thought through. I have learn a lot from it and it's a great introduction to basics of dinosaurs knowledge."

"I appreciate the broad scope, and the weaving in of information on geology, biology, plate techtonics, evolution, extinction issues and climate change."

"The course is excellent in many ways."

The course benefits from the expertise and passion of the instructors, Betsy Kruk and Dr. Philip John Currie.

"The excellent demonstrations and mode of discussions will help me a lot to enrich my existing knowledge of dinosaurs."

"Betsy was a great teacher; I wonder where she is now?"

"The notes-video-quiz structure of the course was easy to follow along with and the overall structure of weekly topics flowed nicely."

The course utilizes a variety of engaging assignments to reinforce learning including embedded quizzes, interactive timelines, and virtual fossil exploration.

"I loved this course! I took it for fun since my husband knows everything about dinosaurs, he was a dinosaur kid, and he even learned a few things from talking to me about the course."

"I liked the way that the regular nonthreatening, interactive questions kept me engaged with the lessons and the quizzes gave me the opportunity to test my understanding."

"The interactive questions during the lectures are a great continuous assessment and all answers are explained after you have completed them"

Some of the course information is outdated and may not reflect the latest scientific understanding.

"A great introduction to dinosaurs, paleontology, and geologic time. Students new to these topics will learn a lot, and those more familiar with them will enjoy the fun refresher."

"What a pitty, is already finished. This was an amazing oportunity to learn new things about dinosaurs. I really love how you managed to teach a lot of things in so little time."

"I thoroughly enjoyed this module! It was a great introduction to dinosaurs and the world before humans existed."

The course includes a large number of quizzes, which some learners found excessive.

"The explanation is excellent. Field visits and showing fossils in the lectures were really interesting & I enjoyed the site aswell."

"This course is absolutely amazing. It gives you so much information about everything to do with dinosaurs and really well presented."

"I really liked it, it's very interesting."

The course includes a 3D fossil viewer that allows learners to interact with and explore dinosaur fossils.

"The fossil viewer stopped working after maybe the 3rd or 4th interaction. Every time i would try and look at it a blue page would come up and none of it worked."

"In-depth and provide so many Invaluable resources and lecture notes. The structure of the lectures with quizzes part way through and tests at the end of each module Is very effective."

"Good points: systemic coverage of the topic, and instructors all seem enthusiastic about the subject.However: sometimes there is this avalanche of different dinosaurs that is impossible to keep up with. Also, my granddaughter (not quite 8) knows more about dinosaurs from reading books."

The course materials contain some spelling and grammar errors.

"The entire course was utterly amazing."

"I received a BA in Geology in 1974 and clearly so much has been learned since then, including the discovereies of Dr. Alvarez. it was fascinating to catch up with recent work and you have provided a great forum."

"My childhood dream come true, at 30 years old."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Dino 101: Dinosaur Paleobiology with these activities:

Review Basic Anatomy and Physiology

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Strengthen your understanding of basic anatomy and physiology, which is foundational to studying dinosaur paleobiology.

Browse courses on Anatomy

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Review your notes or textbooks from previous biology or anatomy courses.
Complete online practice quizzes or exercises on basic anatomy and physiology concepts.
Attend a refresher workshop or lecture on basic anatomy and physiology.

Organize and Review Course Materials

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Enhance your understanding and retention of course materials by organizing and reviewing your notes, assignments, and quizzes regularly.

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Gather all your course materials, including notes, assignments, and quizzes.
Organize your materials by topic or lesson.
Review your materials regularly to reinforce your learning.

Review Evolutionary Biology

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Refresh your knowledge of evolutionary biology, which is essential for understanding dinosaur evolution and extinction.

Browse courses on Evolutionary Biology

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Review your notes or textbooks from previous biology or evolutionary biology courses.
Read articles or watch videos on recent advances in evolutionary biology.
Attend a lecture or presentation on a topic in evolutionary biology.

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Join a Study Group

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Enhance your understanding and retention of course material by joining a study group and engaging with peers.

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Find or create a study group with peers in the course.
Meet regularly with your study group to discuss course material, work on assignments, and prepare for exams.
Take turns leading discussions and presenting concepts to your peers.

Career center

Learners who complete Dino 101: Dinosaur Paleobiology will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Paleontologist

Paleontologists study the fossils of ancient organisms to learn about the history of life on Earth. They may work in museums, universities, or government agencies. This course's comprehensive overview of non-avian dinosaurs, including their anatomy, eating habits, locomotion, growth, environmental and behavioral adaptations, origins, and extinction, would be very useful for a Paleontologist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Paleontologist

Research Scientist

Research Scientists conduct scientific research in a variety of fields, such as biology, chemistry, physics, and geology. They may work in academia, government, or the private sector. This course's overview of non-avian dinosaurs, including their origins, evolution, and extinction, may be useful for a Research Scientist.

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Naturalist

Naturalists study natural history and the environment. They may work in museums, parks, or other educational settings. This course's overview of non-avian dinosaurs, including their anatomy, eating habits, locomotion, growth, environmental and behavioral adaptations, origins, and extinction, may be useful for a Naturalist.

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Zoologist

Zoologists study the biology and behavior of animals. They may work in academia, government, or the private sector. This course's overview of non-avian dinosaurs, including their anatomy, eating habits, locomotion, growth, environmental and behavioral adaptations, origins, and extinction, may be useful for a Zoologist who studies reptiles.

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Museum Educator

Museum Educators develop and deliver educational programs for museums and other cultural institutions. They may work with a variety of audiences, such as children, adults, and families. This course's overview of non-avian dinosaurs, including their anatomy, eating habits, locomotion, growth, environmental and behavioral adaptations, origins, and extinction, may be useful for a Museum Educator.

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Museum curator

Museum Curators oversee the collections of museums and historical societies. They may be responsible for acquiring, preserving, and exhibiting artifacts and specimens, such as dinosaur fossils. This course's overview of non-avian dinosaurs, including their anatomy, eating habits, locomotion, growth, environmental and behavioral adaptations, origins, and extinction, may be useful for a Museum Curator.

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Geographer

Geographers study the Earth's surface and its human and natural features. They may work in academia, government, or the private sector. This course's overview of non-avian dinosaurs, including their paleogeography and plate tectonics, may be useful for a Geographer.

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Anthropologist

Anthropologists study the human species and its cultures. They may work in academia, government, or the private sector. This course's overview of non-avian dinosaurs, including their evolution, origins, and extinction, may be useful for an Anthropologist who studies human evolution.

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Ecologist

Ecologists study the interactions between organisms and their environment. They may work in academia, government, or the private sector. This course's overview of non-avian dinosaurs, including their environmental and behavioral adaptations, may be useful for an Ecologist who studies the evolution of ecosystems.

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Wildlife Biologist

Wildlife Biologists study the biology and behavior of wildlife populations. They may work for government agencies, non-profit organizations, or private companies. This course's overview of non-avian dinosaurs, including their behavior and adaptations, may be useful for a Wildlife Biologist.

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Science Communicator

Science Communicators communicate science to the public. They may work for museums, science centers, or other organizations. This course's overview of non-avian dinosaurs, including their anatomy, eating habits, locomotion, growth, environmental and behavioral adaptations, origins, and extinction, may be useful for a Science Communicator.

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Environmental Scientist

Environmental Scientists study the environment and its components, such as air, water, soil, and plants. They may work for government agencies, private companies, or non-profit organizations. This course's overview of non-avian dinosaurs, including their environmental and behavioral adaptations, may be useful for an Environmental Scientist.

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Science Writer

Science Writers write about science and technology for a variety of audiences. They may work for newspapers, magazines, websites, or other publications. This course's overview of non-avian dinosaurs, including their anatomy, eating habits, locomotion, growth, environmental and behavioral adaptations, origins, and extinction, may be useful for a Science Writer.

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Science Teacher

Science Teachers teach science to students in schools and other educational settings. They may teach a variety of science subjects, such as biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science. This course's overview of non-avian dinosaurs, including their anatomy, eating habits, locomotion, growth, environmental and behavioral adaptations, origins, and extinction, may be useful for a Science Teacher.

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Geologist

Geologists study the Earth's physical structure and history. They may explore for oil, gas, or other natural resources, or they may study the Earth's processes, such as plate tectonics and climate change. This course's overview of non-avian dinosaurs, including their origins and extinction, may be useful for a Geologist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Geologist