Integrated Teaching in the Undergraduate Laboratory

有几个科学过程的组成部分很难在课堂上传达。这些包括实验设计、假设检验、数据分析和解释以及发现的兴奋感。该系正在准备一个为期一学期的发育生物学示范实验室项目，该项目包含了这些组成部分，此外还实现了四个具体的教学目标。那是,1)通过允许学生使用最先进的技术来“揭开”科学的神秘面纱2)通过解决实际的研究问题来提供真正发现的机会3)通过使用各种技术来回答具体问题来说明科学的跨学科性质以及4)通过在最终研究论文中组织结果来学习交流思想和批判性思考。该部门正在要求设备完成四个工作站，通过染料离子导入、神经递质的免疫细胞化学定位和神经元的电生理特征来研究水蛭神经节神经元的细胞结构和功能。这些工作站包括解剖立体显微镜、微操作器、音频扬声器、示波器和用于在Mac SE计算机上进行数据收集的MacLab A/D-D/A硬件和软件。其他部分的工作站目前都在手边--直流放大器、空气台和计算机。这些设备也用于生物课程中的其他几门课程，将增强学生自主研究项目的潜在实验可能性，表彰研究，并享受包括其他机构的学生在内的研究机会。这项提议将大大加强每年对100多名年轻女科学家的高级培训，其中许多人有望继续攻读研究生学位。

There are several components of the scientific process that are difficult to convey in the classroom. These include experimental design, testing of hypotheses, analysis and interpretation of data and the excitement of discovery. The department is preparing a model semester-long laboratory program in developmental biology which incorporates these components and in addition fulfills four specific teaching goals. That is, 1) to "demystify" science by allowing students to use state of the art technologies 2) to provide an opportunity for real discovery by addressing an actual research question 3) to illustrate the interdisciplinary nature of science by using a variety of techniques to answer specific questions and 4) to learn to communicate ideas and to think critically by organizing results in a final research paper. The department is requesting equipment to complete four workstations for investigation of cellular structure and function in neurons of leech ganglia by dye iontophoresis, immunocytochemical localization of neurotransmittors and electrophysiological characterization of neurons. Included in these workstations are dissecting stereomicroscopes, micromanipulators, audio speakers, oscilloscopes and MacLab A/D - D/A hardware and software for data collection on Mac SE computers. Other pieces of the workstations are presently on hand - DC amplifiers, air tables and computers. The pieces of equipment also are for use by several other courses in the biology curriculum and will enhance the potential experiments possible for student independent research projects, honors research, and suffer research opportunities which include students from other institutions. This proposal will significantly enhance the advanced training of more than 100 young women scientists per year, many of whom can be expected to continue study at the graduate level.