A Development Plan for Incorporating Molecular Techniques into the Curriculum of Undergraduate Biology Laboratories

最近在几门生物学课程的实验室中增加了计算机模拟，这大大提高了学生的学习体验。通过将传统湿式实验室的实践经验与计算机模拟提供的学生输入和发现的独特机会相结合，这些实验室的学生可以接触并积极参与从实验设计开始到实验结果传播的科学过程的各个阶段。在这个项目中，提供这种教学模式的实验室的数量和类型扩大到包括涉及现代分子技术的实验室。计算机模拟与湿实验室练习的结合提供了比单独的任何一种练习更好的学习环境。由于过去设备的限制，该大学一直无法提供湿实验室来补充遗传学、细胞和分子生物学中使用的分子技术的计算机模拟。一门名为“生物学分子技术”的新实验课程已被开发出来，作为纯授课课程的一般配套课程。通过这些课程的补充，学生们可以更好地进行独立研究，进入竞争激烈的就业市场，或者进入研究生院。这些实验室的成功与否可以通过系内学习成果评估程序来评估。用于评估的参数包括参加地方、区域和国家科学会议的学生人数；学生撰写的出版物数量；以及被竞争激烈的研究生和专业项目录取的学生人数。另一个参数包括毕业后24个月内该学科的工作安排。传播该项目的成果的计划包括赞助姊妹机构的现场培训方案。*

The recent addition of computer simulations into the laboratories of several of the biology courses has greatly enhanced the learning experience of students. By combining the practical experience of traditional wet laboratories with the unique opportunities for student input and discovery that is available through computer simulations, students in these laboratories are exposed to and actively participate in all phases of the scientific process ranging from the inception of experimental design to the dissemination of experimental results. In this project, the number and types of laboratories for which this pedagogic model is offered are expanded to include laboratories involving modern molecular techniques. Integration of computer simulations with wet laboratory exercises provides a better learning environment than either type of exercise provides alone. Because of past equipment limitations, the university has been unable to offer wet laboratories to complement the computer simulation of molecular techniques used in Genetics and Cell and Molecular Biology. A new laboratory course entitled Molecular Techniques in Biology has been developed to serve as a general companion course for lecture-only courses. By these additions to the curriculum, students are better prepared to conduct independent research, enter the competitive job market, or enter graduate school. Success of these laboratories can be evaluated using the departmental learning outcomes assessment process. Parameters used for this assessment include the number of students participating in local, regional, and national scientific meetings; the number of publications written by students; and the number of students accepted into competitive graduate and professional programs. An additional parameter includes job placement in the discipline within 24 months of graduation. Plans for dissemination of this project's results include sponsoring an on-site training program for sister institutions. *