Computer-assisted Investigative Approach to Undergraduate Life Science Laboratories

该项目资助开发计算机辅助的调查练习，以改善普通生物学，细胞生物学和人类生理学的本科实验室课程。 该项目包括三个主要目标： (1)修改几项实验室活动，以遵循调查性而不是食谱类型的方法;（2）购买额外的数据采集系统，使我们能够在更大、更实用的规模上进行计算机辅助调查实验室活动;（3）开发或购买学生通过生命科学计算机学习中心的计算机访问的实验室前教学教程材料。 最近的经验，在这个部门与Macintosh为基础的数据采集系统在本科人体生理学类已经证明了计算机辅助活动的价值，在实验室类增加调查方法。 基于计算机的数据采集减少了进行实验室练习所需的时间，从而允许将更多的实验室时间用于发展假设、预测结果、设计替代测试条件以及追求调查方法的其他方面。 这将更加注重科学的过程，并激发学生对实验室课程的兴趣。

This project funds the development of computer-assisted, investigative exercises for improvement of undergraduate laboratory classes in General Biology, Cell Biology, and Human Physiology. The project includes three principal objectives: (1) modify several laboratory activities to follow an investigative rather than a cookbook type of approach; (2) purchase additional data acquisition systems that enable us to conduct computer-assisted investigative laboratory activities on a larger, more practical scale; (3) develop or purchase tutorial materials for prelaboratory instruction accessible to the students by way of computers in the Life Science Computer Learning Center. Recent experience in this department with Macintosh-based data acquisition systems in undergraduate Human Physiology classes have demonstrated the value of computer-assisted activities for augmenting an investigative approach in laboratory classes. Computer-based data acquisition reduces the time required to perform the laboratory exercises and thereby permits dedication of more of the laboratory period to developing hypotheses, predicting outcomes, devising alternative test conditions, and pursuing other aspects of the investigative approach. This places greater focus on the process of science and motivates student interest in laboratory classes.