Integrating Technology into Introductory Biology Laboratories

生物科学(61)Muhlenberg学院生物系致力于让学生承担长期的独立研究项目，完成全面的数据分析和数据呈现，并从事密集的协作探究和调查型练习。Muhlenberg 1998年的ILI-NSF赠款确保通过使用基于计算机的技术在以研究为基础的高级课程中实现这些目标。目前的项目是关于入门生物学序列的，是对万花筒计划《什么管用》和库兹敦大学(截止日期9952337)提供的类似努力提供的学习的改编。具体地说，该项目正在实施动植物结构/功能和细胞/分子生物学实验室的教学模式，同时采用计算机技术促进科学研究。我们的中心目标是将计算机技术和科学文化的使用扩大到生物实验室入门课程的学生。这些课程通过调查练习和进行独立研究，向学生介绍科学探究的所有要素。学生们使用计算机、软件和外围设备1)记录他们的短期研究和长期独立实验的数据，2)进行统计和绘图，3)将数据放在网上并使用基于网络的技术访问分子数据库，4)以海报和/或口头演示的形式展示他们的长期项目。因此，基于计算机的基础设施使学生能够在实验室内外建立更复杂的联系。

Biological Sciences (61)Muhlenberg College's Biology Department is committed to having students undertake long term, independent research projects, complete comprehensive data analysis and data presentation, and engage in intensive collaborative inquiry and investigative type exercises. Muhlenberg's 1998 ILI-NSF grant ensured that these objectives were accomplished in the upper-level research-based courses through the use of computer-based technology. The current project is addressing the introductory biology sequence, and is an adaptation of the learnings provided by Project Kaleidoscope's "What Works," and similar efforts at Kutztown University (DUE 9952337). Specifically, the project is implementing models for teaching plant and animal structure/function and cell/molecular biology laboratories while adapting computer technology to facilitate scientific inquiry. Our central goal is to expand the use of computer technology and the culture of science to students enrolled in the introductory biology laboratories. These courses are introducing the students to all elements of scientific inquiry through investigative exercises and doing independent research. The students are using computers, software, and peripherals to 1) record data from their short-term investigative and long-term independent experiments, 2) doing statistics and graphing, 3) placing data on the web and using web-based technology to access molecular databases, and 4) presenting their long-term projects in the format of a poster and/or oral presentation. Thus, the computer-based infrastructure is allowing the students to make even more sophisticated connections within and outside the laboratory.