A Project - Oriented Approach to Introductory Laboratory Instruction

本项目旨在改进两门为期两个学期的生物概论课程，一门是非理科专业的，一门是理科专业的。具体而言，该项目侧重于将课程的实验室部分从一系列食谱练习之一修订为侧重于科学方法、数据获取、收集、组织和分析、仪器、生物技术、数学和报告写作的面向项目的练习。由两名学生组成的研究团队将花费整整一个学期的时间探索自己选择的研究问题。人们认为，该项目将更好地展示实际操作的科学，将培养学生的科学推理技能，并将提高科学素养。

This project is designed to improve two two-semester introductory biology courses, one for non-science majors and one for science majors. Specifically, the project focuses on the revision of the laboratory sections of the courses from one of a series of cookbook exercises to one that is project oriented focusing on scientific methodology, data acquisition, collection, organization and analysis, instrumentation, biotechnology, mathematics and report writing. Research teams consisting of two students will spend an entire semester exploring a self-selected research problem. It is thought that the project will better present science as it is actually practiced, will develop scientific reasoning skills among our students and will enhance scientific literacy.