Improving Undergraduate Biology Laboratory Experiences by Using a Computer Laboratory

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This project updates and improves the curriculum and instrumentation in the biology teaching labs at the college. Five years ago, a three-phase plan was initiated to accomplish this goal. Phase 1 provided a high-speed network in biology. Phase 2 developed faculty resources and provided a pilot lab for testing the feasibility of this project. Phase 3 provides 50% of the teaching labs with a minimum of one workstation per two students. The Biology Department has been successfully implementing Phases 1 and 2. This project provides resources for Phase 3. The hardware and software obtained by this project enable students to engage in hands-on experiments, reduce the amount of time spent on equipment setup, analyze data more effectively, work collaboratively in pairs, and use modern three- dimensional anatomical software to extend their knowledge of human anatomy. This project enables development a dual-purpose computer dry lab/wet lab with computer workstations that are networked by high-speed Ethernet. All workstations use a product, Timbuktu, that allows each workstation to observe the instructor's workstation or other student's workstations; all AV workstations share a common audio/visual feed allowing images (microscope, VHS tape deck) to be broadcast to each workstation; and workstations have a pedestal-based computer stand that allows the computer lab to be used either as a wet or dry lab.