Teaching Undergraduates in Biological Sciences: Concepts and Technologies

这项ILI计划的目标是提供新的实验室练习，在四门高级本科课程中利用最先进的技术：内分泌学、神经解剖学、神经生理学和寄生虫学。学生在将这项技术融入实践和体验式学习中发挥积极作用，从而为科学事业做好更好的准备。拟议的实验室基于三项教学原则：学生设计的探究、学习者之间的合作和新技术的使用。学生测试假设，进行实验，收集和分析他们的数据，并在研讨会上以书面和/或口头报告的形式向班级和较低水平的学生展示他们的结果。因此，其他本科生也从这个项目中受益。文献回顾和同化是这些实验室练习和报告的一个关键方面。随着我们课程的这些创新，学生们体验到了真正的科学，就像研究科学家所做的那样。除了寄生虫学以外，所有这些课程都包括在与心理学系联合开设的跨学科神经科学辅修课程中。每年大约有100名学生报名参加这些课程。这些学生中的大多数在全国范围内继续攻读学士学位后的课程，如医学兽医、牙科、物理治疗和博士课程。该项目的结果和影响将通过与评价协调员合作进行的形成性评价和总结性评价进行评价。结果将通过教育期刊上的出版物、专业会议上的演讲和迈阿密大学网站与同事分享。

The goal of this ILI proposal is to offer new laboratory exercises that utilize state of the art technology in four upper level undergraduate courses: Endocrinology, Neuroanatomy, Neurophysiology and Parasitology. Students play an active role in incorporating this technology into practical and experiential learning and thus are better prepared for careers in science. The proposed laboratories are based on three pedagogical principles: student-designed inquiry, collaboration among learners and use of new technology. Students test hypotheses, conduct experiments, collect and analyze their data and present their results in written and/or oral reports to their class and to lower-level students in workshops. Thus other undergraduates also benefit from this project. Literature review and assimilation is a critical aspect of these laboratory exercises and reports. With these innovations in our courses, students are experiencing real science as it is performed by research scientists. All of these courses, except Parasitology, are included in the interdisciplinary Neuroscience Minor, jointly offered with the Department of Psychology. Approximately 100 students enroll in these courses each year. Most of these students continue their education in post-baccalaureate programs across the nation, such as medical veterinary, dental, physical therapy and Ph.D. programs. The results and impact of this project will be assessed by formative and summate evaluations conducted in collaboration with an evaluation coordinator. Results will be shared with colleagues through publications in education journals, presentations at professional meetings and the Miami University website.