Implementation and Evaluation of an Undergraduate Inquiry-Based Research Laboratory Curriculum in Microbial Ecology

生物科学（61）. 该项目正在开发和评估一个基于探究的微生物生态学本科实验室课程，该课程面向大型大学环境中的生命科学专业。它为本科生提供了在课堂内的不同群体中工作的机会，这些群体反映了协作科学界，并评估假设，设计实验和分析在微生物学，社区生态学，分子生物学，生物信息学和/或生物遗传学中进行的协作学生项目所产生的数据。三门课程系列以引导探究的方法开始，学生在其中建立了一个概念框架，用于应用科学方法，因为它涉及到微生物生态学的研究，并进展到一个独立的，假设测试探索自我生成的问题。该项目的智力价值在于（1）研究实验室课程的开发，这是在大型大学环境中教授科学探究和吸引学生参与科学研究的重要模式，（2）强有力的评估计划，提供有关这种课程方法有效性的宝贵信息，以及（3）开发一个专门的，开源数据库，用于存储和共享学生研究项目的结果，并用作学生生物信息学调查的调查工具。该计划的更广泛影响包括开发一个便携式和可扩展的基于探究的课程模型，课程结构提供了一个框架，围绕研究项目建立实验室课程，重点是任何众多的主题。该项目被视为迈向生命科学领域更大规模机构努力的第一步，预计每年将影响数千名学生。此外，对该项目的广泛评价提供了数据，说明这一方法在改善生命科学专业学生，特别是代表性不足的少数民族和妇女的招聘和留用方面的有效性。最后，该项目的成果正在通过出版物和国家会议上的演讲进行传播。

Biological Sciences (61). This project is developing and evaluating an inquiry-based undergraduate laboratory curriculum in microbial ecology that is geared toward majors in the life sciences in a large university setting. It is providing undergraduates opportunities to work in diverse groups within the classroom that are reflective of the collaborative scientific community, and to evaluate hypotheses, design experiments, and analyze data generated by collaborative student projects conducted in microbiology, community ecology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and/or phylogenetics. The three-course series begins with a guided-inquiry approach in which students build a conceptual framework for application of the scientific method as it pertains to research in microbial ecology, and progresses into an independent, hypothesis-testing exploration of self-generated questions. The intellectual merit of the project lies in (1) the development of the research laboratory curriculum, an important model for teaching scientific inquiry and for engaging students in scientific research in a large university setting, (2) a strong evaluation plan that is providing valuable information about the effectiveness of this curricular approach, and (3) the development of a dedicated, open-source database for storing and sharing results of student research projects and for use as an investigative tool for students' bioinformatics investigations.Broader impacts of the program include the development of a portable and scalable inquiry-based curricular model, with the structure of the curriculum providing a framework for building laboratory courses around research projects focusing on any multitude of topics. The project is seen as a first step toward a larger-scale institutional effort in the life sciences that is projected to affect thousands of students per year. In addition, the extensive evaluation of the project is providing data on the effectiveness of this approach at improving recruitment and retention of students, particularly underrepresented minorities and women, in life sciences majors. Finally, the results of the project are being disseminated through publications and presentations at national meetings.