Computer-assisted Investigative Approach to Undergraduate Life Science Laboratories

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This project funds the development of computer-assisted, investigative exercises for improvement of undergraduate laboratory classes in General Biology, Cell Biology, and Human Physiology. The project includes three principal objectives: (1) modify several laboratory activities to follow an investigative rather than a cookbook type of approach; (2) purchase additional data acquisition systems that enable us to conduct computer-assisted investigative laboratory activities on a larger, more practical scale; (3) develop or purchase tutorial materials for prelaboratory instruction accessible to the students by way of computers in the Life Science Computer Learning Center. Recent experience in this department with Macintosh-based data acquisition systems in undergraduate Human Physiology classes have demonstrated the value of computer-assisted activities for augmenting an investigative approach in laboratory classes. Computer-based data acquisition reduces the time required to perform the laboratory exercises and thereby permits dedication of more of the laboratory period to developing hypotheses, predicting outcomes, devising alternative test conditions, and pursuing other aspects of the investigative approach. This places greater focus on the process of science and motivates student interest in laboratory classes.