Establishment of a Biology Computer Laboratory for a Project-Based Curriculum

穆伦伯格学院生物系在其课程中强调探究性学习。学生通过在现场或实验室设计原创项目，分析和解释他们的数据，并向教师和同龄人展示他们的学习。基于项目的方法增加了学生对学习的投入。其中一些项目已经出版了学生刊物。该部正计划在整个课程中扩大以项目为基础的方法，并更加强调数量数据分析。四门中高级课程：扫描电子显微镜、野外植物学与植物生态学、高级分子遗传学、生理调节与适应。所有四门课程都将强调学生的项目，定量分析和在部门研讨会和海报会议上展示结果。这一举措要求学生能够使用复杂的数据分析软件和硬件。为了使这些技术提供给学生，该部门正在计划建设一个生物计算机设施。新的计算机实验室将为在这四门课程中进行研究项目的学生以及进行独立或荣誉研究项目的学生提供使用当前技术的机会。

The Muhlenberg College Biology Department emphasizes inquiry-based learning in its curriculum. Students learn by designing original projects in the field or laboratory, analyzing and interpreting their data, and presenting them to faculty and their peers. A project-based approach increases student investment in learning. Some of these projects have led to student publications. The Department is planning to expand the project-based approach across the curriculum and increase the emphasis on quantitative data analysis. Four intermediate and advanced level courses are targeted for this proposal: Scanning Electron Microscopy, Field Botany and Plant Ecology, Advanced Molecular Genetics, and Physiological Regulation and Adaptation. All four courses will emphasize student projects, quantitative analysis and presentation of results in a departmental symposium and poster session. This initiative requires that students have access to sophisticated data analysis software and hardware. In order to make these technologies available to students, the Department is planning the construction of a Biology Computer Facility. The new computer laboratory will provide access to current technology for students doing research projects in these four courses as well as students performing independent or honors research projects.