The Molecules of Life: A Lecture and Laboratory Course for Non-Science Majors

生物科学（61）本提案描述了为一门创新课程编写教材的情况，该课程名为《生命分子》，针对的是非理科专业的本科生。该项目解决了迫切需要改善科学教育的学生谁不专门在科学，但必须科学素养，以作出明智的决定，作为公民在他们的个人生活和未来的职业生涯。本课程的目标受众包括文科、商科专业的本科生和即将成为教师的学生。生命的分子使用现代主题，如蛋白质结构，药物设计和免疫反应，传达我们对生物分子功能的理解，以及这些知识如何应用于对抗人类疾病。现有的生物化学教学资源不适合本课程，因为它们是为理科专业或卫生专业的学生设计的。因此，我们正在开发三种类型的教育材料的分子的生命：书面教学模块;互动网站，结合分子图形练习;和多周，调查为基础的实验室项目酶的结构和功能。这些教学模块是与纽约大学研究人员合作编写的，从而加强了教师的发展，并将研究和教学活动联系起来。在非科学专业的课程中使用复杂的图形软件是一种创造性的技术应用，目前在这种情况下未得到充分利用。实验室项目是在研究生的协助下设计的，研究生随后在实验室授课，这一综合经验加强了他们作为教师的培训。教学材料由纽约大学内外的教师进行评估，课程的有效性由学生评估评估。教材和课程成果通过商业出版物、讲习班和科学教育期刊上的文章传播。

Biological Sciences (61) This proposal describes the development of instructional materials for an innovative course, entitled The Molecules of Life, which is aimed at undergraduate non-science majors. The project addresses an urgent need to improve science education for students who do not specialize in science but must be scientifically literate in order to make informed decisions as citizens in their personal lives and future careers. The target audience for the course includes undergraduates in the liberal arts, business majors, and students training to be teachers. The Molecules of Life uses modern topics such as protein structure, drug design, and the immune response to convey our understanding of biomolecular function and how this knowledge is applied in combating human disease. Existing resources for biochemistry instruction are not suitable for this course since they are designed for science majors or students studying for health professions. Therefore, we are developing three types of educational materials for The Molecules of Life: written instructional modules; an interactive web site incorporating molecular graphics exercises; and multi-week, inquiry-based laboratory projects on enzyme structure and function. The instructional modules are being written in collaboration with NYU research faculty, thereby enhancing faculty development and connecting research and teaching activities. Utilizing sophisticated graphics software in a course for non-science majors is a creative application of a technology that is currently underutilized in this context. Laboratory projects are being designed with the assistance of graduate students who then teach the laboratory sections, a combined experience that enhances their training as teachers. Instructional materials are evaluated by faculty both within and outside NYU, and the effectiveness of the course is assessed from student evaluations. The materials and course results are disseminated via commercial publication, workshops, and articles in science education journals.