Improving and Expanding Student Experiences in Introductory Biology Courses with Online Learning Modules

学科：生物科学(61)这个项目旨在解决HBCU生物专业的留住问题(40%的生物专业新生正在流失到其他专业)。材料，由宾夕法尼亚州立大学开发的在线学习模块，针对一个群体进行了完善，正在调整以供不同群体的学生使用，同时保持与原始设计者相同的目标。该项目正在将非洲裔美国学生特别感兴趣的病例(如镰状细胞性贫血)添加到目前网络上的病例中。此外，生命科学入门课程正在重新设计，以包括使用这些新案例和其他案例作为课堂讨论、家庭作业和每月有组织的同行监督小组讨论的基础。有控制组参与的强有力的评估计划进一步表明了该项目的智力价值。同伴辅导员的使用直接让目前在科学界代表性较低的群体的一群学生参与有助于提高学生对科学的学习和兴趣的活动。传播工作正在州和国家两级广泛开展。私人投资机构正在通过现有的一系列州级组织分发材料，包括一次全州范围的会议，旨在鼓励在信息技术教师之间传播开发的材料(北卡罗来纳州技术协作教学和学习(TLTC)和北卡罗来纳州大学专业发展门户网站)。国家平台，如Merlot和在适当的专业会议和国家期刊上介绍调查结果，也被用作传播机制。该项目由生物科学局共同资助。

Discipline: Biological Sciences (61)This project is designed to address the problem of retention of biology majors at an HBCU (40% of incoming biology majors are being lost to other majors). Materials, on-line learning modules developed by Pennsylvania State University, perfected for one population are being adapted for use by a different population of students while retaining the same aims as the original designers. This project is adding cases of particular interest (eg Sickle Cell Anemia) to African American students to the cases currently on the web. In addition Introductory life science courses are being redesigned to include use of these new cases and others as a basis for in class discussion, homework assignments and monthly structured peer-monitored group discussions. A strong evaluation plan involving control groups is a further indication of the intellectual merit of this project.The use of peer facilitators directly involves a cadre of students from a group currently underrepresented in the sciences in activities that help increase students learning of and interest in the sciences. Dissemination is being done broadly at both the state and national levels. The PIs are distributing materials through an existing series of state organizations including a statewide conference designed to encourage dissemination among faculty of IT developed materials (North Carolina Teaching and Learning with Technology Collaboration (TLTC) and the UNC Professional Development Portal). National platforms such as MERLOT and presentation of findings at appropriate professional meetings and in national journals are also being employed as dissemination mechanisms. This project is co-funded by the Directorate for Biological Sciences.