Teaching Evolution for the 21st Century: Using Modern Methods and Real Data to Enhance Student Learning

21 世纪的教学变革：利用现代方法和真实数据增强学生学习

• 批准号: 1044392
• 负责人: Wayne Sousa
• 金额: $ 20万
• 依托单位: University of California-Berkeley
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-07-15 至 2015-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1044392&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Teaching; Evolution; 21st; Century; Using

The Department of Integrative Biology, in collaboration with the University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP), American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS), and the BioQUEST Curriculum Consortium (BioQUEST), is developing a series of five laboratory modules that introduce concepts and methods from current, cutting-edge research in evolutionary biology that are quantitative and computational in nature. The laboratory modules are being implemented and assessed in a gateway biology course that introduces over 1600 undergraduates a year to basic concepts in evolutionary biology, ecology, and plant diversity. The course is a prerequisite for 13 majors and is the only exposure to evolution that many of the students receive while at Berkeley. Intellectual Merit: A novel aspect of the design of the laboratory sequence is that it employs the same databases and programs that research scientists use in order to introduce students to the process of science, yet maintains a connection to tangible specimens and real organisms. It also addresses the importance of building students' quantitative skills, which are especially relevant to evolutionary biology. The comprehensive approach of the lab series is founded on a tested method of effective teaching: making materials explicit, allowing time for reflection, and placing concepts in multiple contexts. A Research Highlights component of the modules is being designed to reinforce the nature of science, relate concepts and skills in lab to true scientific research, and make them relevant to students. The Research Highlights section introduces students to a research "hot topic," a research opportunity for undergraduates on campus, or the personal profile of a researcher chosen particularly to demonstrate the diversity of individuals in the life sciences. The program is being evaluated to assess targeted learning gains in concepts of evolution and quantitative reasoning. In addition, the assessment plan is documenting how the laboratory series affects students' attitudes about science and quantitative thinking, success in future courses and participation in research over multiple semesters. Broader Impacts: In addition to reaching a large immediate audience at UC Berkeley, the laboratory modules are being designed to allow for potential adoption by introductory biology and evolution instructors at other institutions nationwide. The teaching strategies employed in the laboratory sequence are being developed to make quantitative science more accessible and thereby promote students' success. The NSF-funded Understanding Evolution (UE) and Understanding Science (US) web-based programs at the UCMP, BioQUEST, and AIBS are guiding development and dissemination of laboratory materials to help ensure that the materials are distributed as broadly as possible to diverse audiences.

综合生物系与加州大学古生物博物馆（UCMP）、美国生物科学研究所（AIBS）和生物探索课程联盟（BioQUEST）合作，正在开发一系列五个实验室模块，介绍当前进化生物学前沿研究的概念和方法，这些研究本质上是定量和计算的。实验室模块将在一门入门生物学课程中实施和评估，该课程每年向1600多名本科生介绍进化生物学、生态学和植物多样性的基本概念。这门课程是13个专业的必修课程，也是许多学生在伯克利期间唯一接触到进化论的课程。智力优势：实验室序列设计的一个新颖方面是，它采用了研究科学家用来向学生介绍科学过程的相同数据库和程序，同时保持了与有形标本和真实生物体的联系。它还强调了培养学生定量分析能力的重要性，这与进化生物学尤其相关。实验系列的综合方法建立在有效教学的测试方法上：使材料明确，允许时间反思，并将概念置于多种环境中。“研究重点”部分旨在强化科学的本质，将实验室中的概念和技能与真正的科学研究联系起来，并使其与学生相关。“研究亮点”部分向学生介绍一个研究“热门话题”，一个校园本科生的研究机会，或者一个研究人员的个人资料，特别是为了展示生命科学中个人的多样性而选择的。目前正在对该项目进行评估，以评估在进化和定量推理概念方面的目标学习成果。此外，评估计划还记录了实验系列如何影响学生对科学和定量思维的态度、在未来课程中的成功以及在多个学期中对研究的参与。更广泛的影响：除了在加州大学伯克利分校获得大量直接受众外，实验室模块的设计还允许全国其他机构的入门生物学和进化讲师采用。正在开发实验室序列中采用的教学策略，以使定量科学更容易获得，从而促进学生的成功。美国国家科学基金会资助的UCMP、BioQUEST和AIBS的理解进化（UE）和理解科学（US）网络项目正在指导实验室材料的开发和传播，以帮助确保这些材料尽可能广泛地分发给不同的受众。