Improving Undergraduate Biology Laboratory Experiences by Using a Computer Laboratory

该项目更新和改进了学院生物教学实验室的课程和仪器。五年前，为实现这一目标，启动了一项三阶段计划。第一阶段提供了生物学的高速网络。第二阶段发展师资资源，并提供试验实验室以测试该项目的可行性。第三阶段提供50%的教学实验室，每两个学生至少有一个工作站。生物系已经成功地实施了第一阶段和第二阶段。该项目为第三阶段提供资源。通过本项目获得的硬件和软件使学生能够从事动手实验，减少设备设置的时间，更有效地分析数据，结对协作，并使用现代三维解剖软件来扩展他们的人体解剖学知识。该项目能够开发一个双用途的计算机干实验室/湿实验室，其计算机工作站通过高速以太网联网。所有工作站都使用Timbuktu产品，该产品允许每个工作站观察教师的工作站或其他学生的工作站；所有AV工作站共享一个共同的音频/视频馈送，允许图像（显微镜，VHS磁带甲板）广播到每个工作站；工作站有一个基于基座的计算机支架，使计算机实验室可以用作湿实验室或干实验室。

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.