Fostering Creativity, Teamwork and Scientific Thinking in the Introductory Biology Laboratory: A Computer-Based Approach

9451880道利计算机将用于创建介绍生物实验室，通过鼓励创造力，沟通和团队合作培养学生的科学思维。 尽管给入门学生一个实验性的、仪器丰富的实验室经验很重要，但如果它以牺牲科学创造力为代价强调食谱技术，这种经验将是空洞的。在这里，我们建议使用计算机专门培养我们的学生的科学创造力，让他们在实验设计的灵活性，鼓励团队合作，使他们能够与广泛的同龄人交流。 这些实验室将培养创造力，要求学生四人小组在多周的开放式练习中设计实验。 每个小组将有自己的实验室工作台，配备一台与局域网和互联网相连的Macintosh计算机。计算机将被用来为学生提供更广泛的选择，在创建他们的实验设计，并增加他们的灵活性，问这样的问题：“如果我们这样做呢？“我们建议使用的软件是足够通用和通用的，它鼓励学生探索不同的实验方法，而无需指定特定的设计。 最初在学生团队中开发的想法将使用本地网络和基于计算机的口头报告在团队之间进行交流。

9451880 Dawley Computer will be used in creating introductory biology laboratories that foster scientific thinking among students by encouraging creativity, communication, and teamwork. As important as it is to give introductory students an experimental, instrument-rich laboratory experience, this experience will be empty if it emphasizes cookbook technique at the expense of scientific creativity. Here we propose using computers specifically to nurture scientific creativity in our students by giving them flexibility in experimental design, encouraging teamwork, and making it possible for them to communicate with a wide circle of their peers. These laboratories will foster creativity by requiring student teams of four to design experiments in multi-week, open-ended exercises. Each team will have its own laboratory bench equipped with a Macintosh computer linked to a local area network and to the Internet. Computers will be used to give students a wider range of options in creating their experimental designs and to increase their flexibility in asking the question "What if we try it this way?" The software we propose using is sufficiently versatile and general that it encourages students to explore different experimental approaches without dictating a particular design. Ideas, initially developed within student teams, will be exchanged among teams using the local network and computer-based oral presentations.